WOKINGHAM put its best foot forward earlier this year – and the result has been a terrific donation to a local charity.
Regulars at The Rifle Volunteer pub in Reading Road gathered to help with a cheque presentation late last month: several of them took part in the event which involved pretty routes around the borough’s countryside.
One of the beneficiaries of the walk is the Ollie Young Foundation and Sarah Young is pictured receiving a cheque for an impression £2,900 from Andy Slay, one of the walk’s organisers.
Mr Slay said: “We had a terrific turnout for this year’s Wokingham Walk and we’re delighted that it’s been hugely successful in raising money for good causes. We know this donation to Ollie Young Foundation will really help their work.
“Our walkers also raised their own sponsorships for their favourite charities, so thousands more will have been raised. This is a Walk that allows everyone to benefit.”
He added that the decision to make the cheque presentation at The Rifle Volunteer had been an easy one.
“We choose to do it at The Rifle because they organised nearly 30 pub regulars to take part in the Wokingham Walk and they raised just over £750.
“We would love to encourage other pubs to repeat their efforts next year.
“Perhaps an inter-pub challenge as to who can raise the most and have the most walkers.”
Sarah Simpson, from the Ollie Young Foundation, was grateful for the donation.
She said: “We’re hugely grateful to everyone for their support of The Ollie Young Foundation through the Wokingham Walk. This cheque is for a whopping £2,900. With the £100 donation we received on the day this makes our walking total £3,000 – that’s a huge amount.
“Well done and a big thank you to all the walkers.”
Now work is progressing on final preparations for the Ollie Young Foundation Fun Day, which will take place on Sunday, August 12 between 11am and 4pm in Cantley Field.
As ever, there will be a wide range of entertainment to enjoy including live entertainment, stalls, face painting, refreshments, a barbecue, cakes, and bouncy castles. Entry is free.
