More than 350 people from the Hindu community South East London mandal came together to participate in the BAPS 10K Charity Challenge on Sunday 8 June 2025.
The participants – from toddlers through to senior citizens – walked, jogged or ran 10 kilometres around Shooters Hill Sixth Form college in a fun-filled family and community event that raised vital funds for various good causes.
The annual Charity Challenge is a nationwide effort that brings together more than 3,000 enthusiastic participants at around 20 towns and cities across the country, offering a fun and healthy way to raise money for various local and national charities.
The funds will support BAPS’s multifarious educational, community, and spiritual activities in South East London, which serve children, youths, families, and the elderly.
The 2025 Challenge will also support BAPS’s national charity partner, Children With Cancer UK, which is the country’s leading childhood cancer charity aiming to help every child and young person survive cancer by funding life-saving research and supporting patients and their families through treatment and beyond.
The participants also raised funds for Community Hospice, a local charity who provide free, high quality compassionate care and support for people with a terminal illness, their families, and their professional carers in the London Boroughs of Royal Greenwich and Bexley.
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, Macmillan Cancer Support, and the NSPCC. Locally, in South East London mandal, the Challenge has helped Community Hospice in recent years.
The day ended with fun games and activities for the whole family.
Sarah Higgins, one of the participants, shared, ““It was such a joy to attend the BAPS 10K Charity Challenge and witness the amazing spirit of everyone who took part. The energy and sense of community on the day was truly inspiring. We're incredibly grateful to everyone who walked, ran and supported the event to help raise vital funds for Community Hospice. Every step taken helps us continue providing compassionate care to local families when they need it most.”
Amit Patel, a leading volunteer at South East London mandal, added, “This was inspired by Mahant Swami Maharaj to serve everyone in the community; it is very encouraging to see so many children as well as senior members of the community joining in, which truly shows what people can accomplish when they work together; whilst raising money for a worthwhile cause and getting fit and healthy.”