More than 385 people – from toddlers through to senior citizens – joined the BAPS Annual 10k Challenge in East London on Sunday 7 May 2017. The Challenge was held at the London Olympic Stadium & Queen Elizabeth Park, the first such event to be held in the Olympic Stadium.
The funds from this year’s event in East London will go towards BAPS’s multifarious educational, community and spiritual activities serving children, youths, families and the elderly. In addition, this year’s national charity partner with BAPS is Alzheimer’s Society, one of the country’s largest charities fighting dementia.
Previous national partners for BAPS and BAPS Charities have included Age UK, the Anthony Nolan Trust, Barnardo’s, Breast Cancer Care, the British Heart Foundation, Diabetes UK, KIDS, and Macmillan Cancer Support.
The event kicked off shortly after 10am from the running track next to the Stadium in the presence of Yogvivek Swami and Yagnatilak Swami. Attending the launch ceremony was Michael Temple, Stadium Executive, and Cheryl Galbraith, Event Manager for the Olympic Park.
On learning about BAPS's activities, Michael Temple commented, "It’s a privilege for the Stadium to host such an enjoyable family charity event."
After the opening ceremony, walkers, joggers and runners moved along the 10-kilometre route into the Olympic Stadium and thereon to the scenic Olympic Park.
One of the younger participants commented, "I always take part in the 10k Challenge, but I never dreamt that I would one day run in the London Olympic Stadium!"
One of the lead volunteers for the event, Girish Patel, shared, "We are blessed with a young organising team who worked hard to make the event such a success. What makes it truly rewarding is knowing it's for such a good cause and seeing everyone enjoying themselves on the day."