More than 50 people in Havant – from toddlers through to senior citizens – joined the BAPS Annual Challenge on 19 May 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 Havant serving children, youths, families and the elderly.
This year’s event will also support the outstanding work of the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in the local community. BHF's vision is a world free from the fear of heart and circulatory diseases. Money raised to research cures and treatments, so we can beat heartbreak forever.
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.
The event kicked off shortly after 1.00pm from BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Havant. After the opening ceremony, walkers, joggers and runners moved along the route.
One of the participants, Arpit Patel, said, “It was so nice to take part with my friends and have this opportunity to contribute to the British Heart Foundation, NSPCC and to our Mandir for all the good that they do for our community."
One of the lead volunteers for the event, Praful Thaker, added, “It's wonderful to see each year how this event brings so many people together for these worthy causes. We at the Mandir are very thankful to all the young and old participants who turned out to support the Challenge."