More than 40 people joined the BAPS Charities Annual 10k Challenge in Loughborough on Sunday 12 April 2015.
In total, over 3,000 participants walked or ran the 10 kilometres in about 20 towns and cities across the UK. The annual event brings together people of all ages and backgrounds around the country to do something healthy and fun and to raise valuable funds for a variety of worthy causes.
The official partner for BAPS Charities this year is the British Heart Foundation, the nation’s largest independent funder of cardiovascular research. The Challenge also raised funds for Rosa, a charitable fund set up to support initiatives that benefit women and girls in the UK.
Previous national partners have included Barnardo’s, Breast Cancer Care, Diabetes UK, Age UK, KIDS, The Anthony Nolan Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support as well as the British Heart Foundation.
The annual challenge has evolved since its inception over 20 years ago. This year offered participants one of four very different physical feats to complete: the traditional 10km walk or run, a bike ride from London to Brighton or Paris, a gruelling Spartan Challenge, and for the really adventurous, a tandem skydive.
The event in Loughborough kicked off shortly after 11am from BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir on Moira Street.
After the opening ceremony, walkers and runners moved around a marshalled route within the city.
After completing the 10 kilometres, Vinay Sutaria shared, “It was certainly challenging, but me and my friends really enjoyed it. Knowing that we were helping people who are ill and needy made it all worthwhile.”
BAPS Charities volunteer Shamil Sakaria added: “We’re ever so grateful for all the support we’ve received in making this a special day. It means a lot when we can have people coming together to make such a valuable contribution to these two great causes and giving back to the community.”
To learn more about the work of the British Heart Foundation and Rosa, please follow the respective links.
Disclaimer: BAPS Charities is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
