More than 300 people – from toddlers through to senior citizens – came together to participate in the BAPS Annual Charity Challenge on Sunday 4 August 2024 at Beddington Conference Centre.
The participants walked, jogged and some even ran 10 kilometres in a fun-filled family and community event that raised vital funds for various good causes. An additional Static Bike Challenge was also included in which several riders participated to help provide vital support for two local charities.
The Annual Charity Challenge was a nationwide effort that brought together more than 3,000 enthusiastic participants from towns and cities across the country for a fun and healthy way to raise money for various worthy causes and local charities.
The funds will support BAPS’s multifarious educational, community, and spiritual activities in South London, which serves children, youths, families, and the elderly.
The 2024 Challenge will also support BAPS’s local charity partners St Raphael's Hospice Wellbeing Centre and Sutton Night Watch. St Raphael’s Hospice helps improve the lives of those affected by terminal or life-limiting illnesses, giving them and their carers the confidence to cope and enjoy the best quality of life possible. Sutton Night Watch supports and raises awareness for homeless people within the London Borough of Sutton and surrounding areas.
Previous national partners for BAPS and BAPS Charities have included the NSPCC, 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. Locally, in South London, the Challenge has helped Croydon Nightwatch and St Raphael’s hospice in recent years.
There were also games organised for the whole family after the Challenge, and many refreshments provided along the way to keep walkers, joggers and runners hydrated and energised. The enjoyable, healthy day out with friends and family made a real, lasting impact by promoting active lifestyles and supporting the work of local charities and good causes.
Nadine Kennedy from Sutton Night Watch was also present at the opening ceremony. In a short address before the walk began, Ms Kennedy thanked BAPS for its continuing efforts in serving the wider community. She said, “We do support the majority of everyone that comes through our doors, whether its in 5 minutes, whether it’s 5 years, whether it’s if they want a piece of information and we find a pathway for them and we may never see them again, but they’re on the right pathway. That kind of community help, we strive to be able to do 6 days a week that we’re open. This kind of event means that we can fund that going forward.”
Bonita Hope Kennedy from St. Raphael’s Hospice was also present at the opening ceremony. She added, “Any money raised today really does make such a huge difference – just to keep our doors open, pay salaries for our nurses and our doctors, and offer the psychological support to people in the community and the hospice as well as at home and work. It will make a huge difference! Every penny really does help.”
Mohiniben Mistry, a participant shared, “St Raphael’s hospice is an amazing charity. All the staff there, the nurses, absolutely everyone that works there is amazing! They’re so nice, so caring, that it feels like actual loved ones are there caring for your family.”
Bhavikaben Patel also mentioned, “This charity walk is really important to me. I’ve grown up with the mandir and satang and from a young age. We have been taught how important charity work is. My guru’s ethos was 'In the joy of others lies our own' and I strive to implement that in my own life also.”