Ridgewell walkers rack up the miles for charity

A sponsored walk in Ridgewell is expected to raise more than £1,000 for charity.

Members of the Ridgewell Slimming World Group, plus friends and family, set out to do enough laps - 644 - of the village hall playing field, a distance equal to the 120 miles between Ridgewell and Slimming World’s Headquarters in Alfreton, Derbyshire.

The walk was organised to raise money for Cancer Research UK and the Ridgewell Village Hall Improvement Project, as part of Slimming World’s nationwide “Walk All Over Cancer” campaign.

One of the walkers Michaela Cottee, said: “We did manage to walk 66 miles around the playing field on the day which, together with the 110 miles walked by members of the Slimming World Group before the event (largely by those who were unable to attend on the day itself), means that we smashed our target of walking the equivalent of the 120 miles."

Sponsorship money and donations are still coming in, added Michaela, but they are confident more than £1,000 will be raised for Cancer Research UK.

A raffle, tombola, various games, items for sale and stall fees also boosted the fund-raising.

Refreshments sold on the day raised £100 for the village hall improvement fund.

Prizes were given for the most laps walked in four age categories and the most laps walked by anyone on the day was the 36 that were completed by Julie Rust in the 18-60 age group.

One of the Slimming World walkers to take part, Sue Green, was diagnosed with breast cancer two weeks after participating in the 2017 walk, but she has just received the all clear after treatment.