More than 175 people – from toddlers through to senior citizens – joined the BAPS Annual 10k Challenge in Luton on Saturday 6 May 2017.
The charity Challenge 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 in Luton will go towards BAPS’s multifarious educational, community and spiritual activities serving children, youths, families and the elderly. Some of the funds will also be donated to CHUMS whose mission is to improve the mental health and emotional well-being of children and young people. In addition, this year’s national charity partner with BAPS is Alzheimer’s Society, one of the country’s largest charities fighting dementia.
Previous national partners for BAPS and BAPS Charities have included Age UK, the Anthony Nolan Trust, Barnardo’s, Breast Cancer Care, the British Heart Foundation, Diabetes UK, KIDS, and Macmillan Cancer Support. Locally, the Challenge has helped Keech Hospice Care and Luton and Dunstable Children’s Ward in the past.
The event kicked off shortly after 12.30pm from Stockwood Park Athletics Centre in the presence of Pippa Holdup, Community Fundraiser from Alzheimer’s Society.
Addressing the gathering, Pippa said, “Thank you for taking part and supporting Alzheimer Society. Alzheimer Society is a leading dementia charity. Dementia is the 21st century’s biggest killer in the UK, overtaking heart disease. There are 850,000 people currently living in the UK with dementia and with no cure. That’s why events like this are so important for Alzheimer’s Society so that we are able to do more to help these people with your help.”
After the opening ceremony, walkers and runners moved around the athletic track to complete the 10 kilometres.
Adults and children also enjoyed plenty of other healthy exercise as they participated in various sports and games after the Challenge, rounding off a thoroughly fun day out for the whole family.
Rita Patel, a participant, shared: “The whole day was great fun for my family and so fulfilling knowing that the funds we raised would be helping so many people who really need support.”
One of the lead volunteers for the event, Vishwas Rathod, added, “We’re extremely grateful for all the generous support we receive, including from Stockwood Park Athletics Centre and the local Luton Police Cohesion Team. To see so many people young and old coming out on a Saturday afternoon for this worthy cause is so inspiring.”