More than 250 people in East London – from toddlers through to senior citizens – joined the BAPS Annual 10K Challenge on Sunday 15 April 2018.
The annual charity Challenge organised by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha 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 will go towards supporting BAPS’s multifarious educational, community and spiritual activities in East London serving children, youths, families and the elderly.
This year’s event will also support Chigwell Riding Trust, for their outstanding work in the local community of supporting children with special needs.
The 2018 Challenge will also be supporting BAPS’s national charity partner, Carers UK, the country’s only national membership charity for carers. It aims to make life better for the 6.5 million people in the UK who are supporting a loved one who is older, disabled or seriously ill.
Previous national partners for BAPS and BAPS Charities have included Age UK, Alzheimer’s Society, the Anthony Nolan Trust, Barnardo’s, Breast Cancer Care, the British Heart Foundation, Diabetes UK, KIDS, and Macmillan Cancer Support.
The event held for the first time at BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, East London, kicked off at 11.00am in the presence of Cllr Darshan Sunger, representing the Chigwell Village ward, and Deborah Hall MBE, President of Chigwell Riding Trust.
Addressing the gathering, Cllr Sunger remarked that the local community is delighted in welcoming a new Hindu mandir in Chigwell. Deborah Hall MBE also said, “I am privileged to be invited to such wonderfully organised event, particularly as you are fundraising for a charity close to my heart.”
After the opening ceremony, walkers, joggers and runners moved along the 10-kilometre route from the Mandir to Chigwell Hall grounds completing five laps of the park before returning to the Mandir for their certificate and refreshments.
Almost 40 children enjoyed the play areas in Chigwell Park after completing their walk. All the participants enjoyed the family event made even more enjoyable by the warmest day of the year.
Ansh, 14, shared, “It was a great day out with my friends and family, and supporting a great cause motivated me to run the entire route.”
One of the lead volunteers for the event, Rashesh Rao, said, “We’re grateful for the support of the local community and thank all the volunteers in making the day such a smooth success.”