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Hertfordshire community goes the extra mile for children’s charities
More than 350 walkers took to the Hertfordshire countryside raising more than £120,000 for children and young people’s charities across the region.
The annual event – The Great Big Walk for Herts – was organised by Helping Herts, which supports 12 children’s charities across the county.
Participants completed 12 unique 13-mile loops, covering a combined 156 miles – almost the entire length of the Hertfordshire Way footpath, taking approximately five hours to complete.
The walk brought the whole community together, with participants ranging in age from 11 to 83. Walkers included local residents, community groups and corporate teams.
Jim Tatchell, Co-Founder of Helping Herts, said: “This year’s walk was our biggest yet and it was inspiring to see so many people come together for such an important cause. Raising more than £120,000 will make a real difference to children and young people across Hertfordshire.”
Businesses that took part in the walk included:
• BearingNet
• Lupa Foods (part of Geia Group)
• NFU Mutual
• LemonadeHR
• Brocket Hall
• Auto Trader
• Air Energy
Volunteers from Friends of the Hertfordshire Way were on hand to guide walkers and ensure everyone stayed on track.
The funds raised will benefit Helping Herts’ 12 partner charities, all of which support vulnerable children and young people across the county – from young carers and children with disabilities, to families in hardship and young people facing homelessness.
Charity partners include:
• Watford Mencap
• GRIT (Growing Resilience in Teens)
• Future Living Hertford
• Herts Inclusive Theatre
• Grove Cottage (Bishop Stortford’s Mencap)
• hyh (Herts Young Homeless)
• Playskill
• Hertfordshire Mind Network
• Home-Start Hertfordshire
• CHEXS
• Coram Life Education
• SPACE Hertfordshire
Gordon Morrison, Co-Founder of Helping Herts, said: “The Great Big Walk for Herts shows the best of our county – generosity, community spirit and determination to create brighter futures. We’re grateful to everyone who walked, donated or supported behind the scenes.”
