More than 350 people took to the streets in Leicester for the BAPS Charities Annual 10K Challenge on Sunday 18 May 2014.
Each year, BAPS Charities organises a fun and healthy charity event for individuals to unite as a community to support a worthy cause. At several towns and cities around the UK, around 4,000 enthusiastic men, women and children of all ages – ranging from toddlers through to senior citizens in their nineties – walk, jog and even run a distance of 10 kilometres to raise funds and awareness for a variety of good causes.
This year’s event partnered nationally with Diabetes UK, the leading charity that cares for, connects with and campaigns on behalf of every person affected by or at risk of diabetes – including the 3.8 million people in the UK that are currently diagnosed with the disease. Locally, BAPS Charities also raised funds for Heart Link to support their commendable work in the East Midlands. Heart Link is a support group for parents and families who have a child suffering from a heart defect.
The Challenge this year builds on 20 years of sponsored events. Previous national charity partners have included Macmillan Cancer Research, Barnardo’s, The Anthony Nolan Trust, The British Heart Foundation, Breast Cancer Care, Age UK, KIDS, as well as Diabetes UK.
The event kicked-off shortly after 10am from BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Leicester in the presence of representatives from Diabetes UK.
After the opening ceremony, walkers, joggers and runners headed out along Catherine Street into town and then looped back down along the Golden Mile through to Troon Way, before heading back past Soar Valley College and finishing at the Mandir.
Avantika Patel, who added to the Challenge by completing the 10 kilometres on her specially modified hand-pedalled cycle, shared: “I have been training for weeks on my special bike, just so that I could do that extra bit for these worthy causes. It was an amazing experience!”
BAPS Charities volunteer Darshan Patel added: “Despite the rain, the spirit of service really shone through on every face as we walked around Leicester. It was heartening to see so many people and volunteers take time out on a Sunday to make this event possible for these charities.”
To learn more about the work of Diabetes UK, please click here.
To learn about Heart Link, please click here.
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