More than 55 people in Bristol – from toddlers through to senior citizens – joined the BAPS Annual Challenge on Sunday 9 June 2019.
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 Bristol serving children, youths, families and the elderly.
The 2019 Challenge will also be supporting BAPS’s national charity partner, the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) – the UK’s leading charity campaigning and working to protect children from neglect, harm and abuse.
Previous national partners for BAPS and BAPS Charities have included Age UK, the Alzheimer’s Society, the Anthony Nolan Trust, Barnardo’s, Breast Cancer Care, the British Heart Foundation, Carers UK, Diabetes UK, KIDS, and Macmillan Cancer Support.
The event kicked off shortly after 2pm from Clifton Down. After the opening ceremony, walkers, joggers and runners moved along the scenic Clifton Down Park, completing several circuits.
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.
Hiren Patel, a participant, shared, “It rained a lot but it's all for a good cause, so we didn’t let it dampen our spirits.”
One of the lead volunteers for the event, Dilip Patel, added, “We’re very grateful for all the support we received on the day from our team of dedicated volunteers and all the participants who took time out to join us and contribute to these worthy causes.”