More than 350 people in South London – from toddlers through to senior citizens – joined the BAPS Annual Challenge on 28 April 2019.
The annual charity Challenge organised by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha brought together more than 3,000 enthusiastic participants from towns and cities across the UK for a fun and healthy way to raise money for various worthy causes and local charities.
The funds will go towards supporting BAPS’s multifarious educational, community and spiritual activities in South London serving children, youths, families and the elderly.
This year’s event will also support the outstanding work of St Raphael's Hospice (Sutton) in the local community. The Hospice cares for over 1,000 patients every year.
The 2019 Challenge will also be supporting BAPS’s national charity partner, the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) – the UK’s leading charity campaigning and working to protect children from neglect, harm and abuse.
Previous national partners for BAPS and BAPS Charities have included Age UK, the Alzheimer’s Society, the Anthony Nolan Trust, Barnardo’s, Breast Cancer Care, the British Heart Foundation, Carers UK, Diabetes UK, KIDS, and Macmillan Cancer Support. Locally, the Challenge has helped Croydon Night Watch, in recent years.
The event kicked off shortly after 10am from Beddington Conference Centre.
Addressing the gathering, Gill Nunn of St Raphael’s Hospice said, “Donations made by BAPS would help fund activities and also help provide the excellent quality of care offered by the hospice.”
After the opening ceremony, walkers, joggers and runners moved along the route, which involved a range of city walking through Wallington town centre, Purley Way and also a round of Mellows Park.
Adults and children also enjoyed plenty of other healthy exercise as they participated in various sports and games after the Challenge, rounding off a thoroughly fun day out for the whole family.