More than 200 people – from toddlers through to senior citizens – joined the BAPS Annual 10K Challenge in Leicester on Sunday 24 April 2016.
The charity Challenge organised by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) brought together more than 3,000 enthusiastic participants from towns and cities across the UK for a fun and healthy way to raise money for various worthy causes and local charities.
The funds from this year’s event will go towards BAPS’s multifarious educational, community and spiritual activities serving children, youths, families and the elderly.
Previous national partners, under the auspices of BAPS and BAPS Charities, have included the British Heart Foundation, Diabetes UK, Breast Cancer Care, Age UK, Barnardo’s, KIDS, The Anthony Nolan Trust, and Macmillan Cancer Support.
The event kicked off shortly after 10am from BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir on Gypsy Lane.
After the opening ceremony, walkers, joggers and runners moved along the route, which took them through the City Centre and then back down through the Golden Mile, eventually returning to the Mandir through Rushey Mead.
Chhaya Patel, aged 14, shared: “I really loved the whole day, with people waving and cheering us on as we went by. Most of all, it made me feel good to be able to raise funds to help with all the children’s activities.”
One of the lead volunteers for the event, Darshan Patel, added, “It is so wonderful to see so many families taking part in this annual event. Their dedication together with that of our amazing volunteers is what makes this event such a success.”