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What did the walkers think of the 2023 Saffery Rotary Walk? “I have completed the Saffery Rotary Walk today. This has been the best organised and well-run event that I have ever attended. Total respect to everyone involved. The food was amazing and the support throughout the day was great. A massive thank you to all the volunteers.”A regular walker. “I must admit I was well impressed with the organisation and how well the volunteers looked after me. l must have been asked 20 times or more if I was good and everything okay. One small problem was being offered breakfast at the Gouffre and having to turn it down due to time constraints. It did smell good!”Mark Prevel, who walked the course twice consecutively. “Hi there, I took part in this year’s walk (my first time and it was epic) however, having done it and seeing how much you (as a walker) need the volunteers at each checkpoint etc. I would love to put my name down as a volunteer for next year’s walk. Honestly, the support from every single person was outstanding and my goodness we needed it. Everyone was top class. Absolute superstars. Many thanks”A first-time walker.

An Important Message for our Walkers, Volunteers and Sponsors We want to say a massive thank you to our wonderful volunteers and corporate sponsors without who the Walk could not have grown to be the major success that it is. Special thanks need to go to our event sponsor, Saffery Champness, whose generosity enables us to assure our walkers that every penny that they raise goes without deduction to this year’s 25 selected charities. A final plea to our walkers – Your job is not completely over until you have collected all the sponsorship that has been pledged to you. You can get your sponsorship to us in the following ways:- Post the sum collected to your personal Race Nation Sports Giving page. Pay the money directly into our bank account at:Saffery Rotary Walk Trust60 09 2074677063 Drop a sealed envelope together with your sponsorship form at the offices of Saffery Champness, La Tonnell House, Les Banques, St Sampson. GY1 3HS. If you did not sponsor a walker but wish to contribute to our charities, please use the donation button on the homepage of this site. Thank you all for your tremendous support. The amount of money raised from this year’s walk will be confirmed over the coming weeks, but we are confident that the 25th Round Island Walk will be yet another record breaker.

A Record-Breaking Year for the 2023 Saffery Rotary Walk The Saffery Rotary Walk took place on Saturday 10th June, and as one of Guernsey’s largest charity fundraising events, the event was a huge success with record-breaking numbers involved. The Walk is one of the island’s landmark community events, with over 1,000 people taking part this year. Early Walkers set off at 4.30am at the Guernsey Information Centre and most ended their walk at the Liberation Monument, where the final checkpoint was open between 11am and 9pm. People of all ages and abilities took part, with nine-year-old Harry Wallace being the youngest participant to complete the full island circuit in both this and last year’s walk. Lisa Vizia, Director at Saffery Champness, says: ‘We were thrilled with the turnout for this year’s Saffery Rotary Walk. So many islanders and many from further afield were involved, either as volunteers or walkers. ‘We are very proud to run this as a fully inclusive event. Whilst not everybody sought to complete the 39-mile challenge, it was so rewarding to witness such a diversity of walkers achieve their particular goals.’ Lisa continued: ‘We were greeted with cool weather conditions, ideal for walkers on the day, making for a fantastic event.’ Simon Milsted, the chair of the Saffery Rotary Walk’s organising committee says: ‘To see many people travelling from overseas to take on the challenge was incredible. People travelled from as far afield as South Africa and Barbados just to take part, such is the draw of our magnificent coastline. Local man Mark Prevel achieved an amazing feat completing two consecutive laps of the 39 mile route without a material break.’ ‘We want to say a massive thank you to our wonderful volunteers and corporate sponsors without who the Walk could not have grown to be the major event that it is.’ Simon continued: ‘Special thanks need to go to our event sponsor, Saffery Champness, whose generosity enables us to assure our walkers that every penny that they raise goes without deduction to this year’s 25 selected charities.’ If you want to be a part of this fantastic event next year then put this date in your calendar now: SATURDAY 8TH JUNE 2024 We look forward to seeing you there!

The Rotary Club of Guernsey Centenary Events Continue With The Saffery Rotary Walk To mark their own centenary year coinciding with the 25th year of this incredible annual event, six past Rotary presidents are joining the current president of the Rotary Club of Guernsey on the 10th of June to form a relay team to participate in this year’s Round Island Walk. Brian Acton, President said “In recognition of the 100th Anniversary of our Club, we decided to participate and lead by example and submit an ‘aged and mature relay group’ to illustrate that this is an event that all can be involved in. Between us we have on average well over 25 years of serving the community through Rotary. “On the day we seven will be taking time off from our regular duties as volunteer officials to enjoy actually participating in the walk. We will not missing the opportunity of raising sponsorship for our efforts. “If the thought of taking on the whole walk seems a little intimidating, then why not get a Relay Team together as we have done to share the footsteps. Alternatively join the, more modest, Family Walk that starts at Chouet. It really isn’t too late to register.” In 2022 34 relay teams took part and for 2023 organisers want to smash this number! 25 charities have been chosen to benefit from this year’s sponsorship money. Simon Milsted, Chairman of the Walk Committee said, “The values that underpin our Round Island Walk sit very comfortably with those of the Rotary Club in terms of its longevity, its deep-rooted involvement with our Island community and the service our walkers give to so many charities through the sponsorship that they raise. So it is particularly fitting that our 25th Walk falls in the 100th anniversary year for the first Rotary Club’s foundation in Guernsey. It was a simple decision to mark this linkage by inviting the Club’s past presidents to field a relay team this year. “Naturally we would like to encourage other organisations, workgroups or families to join us in what is proven to be a really great way to enjoy our marvellous coastline while raising money for hard pressed charities in the Bailiwick.”

States Works Steps Up: Extra Team Deployed to Tackle Overgrowth Along South Coast Path Our thanks to States Works who will be allocating an extra team next week to address the worst of the overgrowth along the south coast path. The cliff path greenery has ‘enjoyed’ a very wet spring, so we are grateful that States Works are on the case. Thanks to all those involved!

A ‘SHOUT OUT’ TO ALL OUR PAST WALKERS This is a very special year in the life or the Round Island Walk. If you have walked with us in the past you will have our regular finishers’ medal. But there will only be ONE chance to add this unique medal to your trophy cabinet.  Why not help us celebrate our 25th Walk by joining us on 10th June for part or whole of the Walk and collect this ‘never to be repeated’ memento of all we have achieved together over 25 years. The walk grows in stature each year. If ever there was a moment to put your boots on and relive your past success while taking in our glorious coastline, this is it. Be part of a record breaking year! 

WALK DAY IS GETTING CLOSER With less than a month to go our volunteer team got their sleeves rolled up this week to dispatch some 800 walker packs that contain the, all important, id tags and the much sought after walk shirt. The team comprised volunteers from both the islands’ Rotary Clubs and members of our two major corporate  sponsors, Saffery Champness and Guernsey Post. Thank must also go to our hosts for the evening, St James. Our work does not stop here. We are organised to manage what will be a great community event and a fitting celebration of this our 25th Round Island Walk. So if you haven’t registered yet please do. Don’t worry, you haven’t missed the boat. We will get your walker pack to you. Registration remains open for individual walkers, relay teams and those wishing to join the less demanding Family Walk. This year we are looking to top £1million of donations to charities over the lifetime of the Walk. So not only will you be helping us to celebrate our 25th Round Island Walk but, by raising sponsorship, you will be making a tangible contribution to hard pressed charities in our Bailiwick.

25 local charities to benefit from the 2023 Saffery Rotary Walk 25 Guernsey charities will benefit from the money raised from the 2023 Saffery Rotary Walk, taking place on Saturday 10th June. This year’s selection represents a diverse range of charities across Guernsey who support islanders through many sectors, such as healthcare, sport, social care, arts, leisure and more. The full list of charities is can be found here ‘This is our 25th walk and we hope to welcome a record-breaking number of entries while exceeding the previous total raised through sponsorship. Early bird discounts are still available for those who register before the end of January.’ says Simon Milsted, the chair of Saffery Rotary Walk’s organising team.  ‘We are proud to be supporting such a multitude of charities this year. It is always difficult to decide which will benefit each year, however, we have again selected a broad range of deserving charities that are representative of many sectors island wide.’ Simon continues: ‘Support will continue to be needed with ever increasing demands placed on the voluntary services, and we are pleased to be able to assist those who work selflessly for others. We are confident that the lives of a number of islanders will be made better and easier through the sponsorships raised by walkers.’ ‘I want to thank our sponsors Saffery Champness, for their continued financial commitment and support. This means that every penny raised by our walkers and those who sponsor them goes to the local charities.’ Lisa Vizia, Director of Saffery Champness, says: ‘We take the responsibility of our sponsorship of the Saffery Rotary Walk incredibly seriously, and it is an honour to be involved. The Guernsey community benefits immensely from the money raised which makes it is such a worthwhile event to be supporting.’ Lisa continues: ‘The shared camaraderie of those who take part is truly special as they work towards a common goal to raise money for a set of local charities while enjoying the beautiful views our island has to offer. The annual Walk is at the core of what we do at Saffery as we make our contribution to wider island life.’ The 2023 Saffery Rotary Walk on 10th June takes in 39 miles of Guernsey’s coastline, which begins and ends on the St Peter Port seafront. Walkers can take on the challenge of the entire walk or selected legs. The Walk is held in high regard, ranked among the best charity walks in the UK for its shared fellowship and scenic views. Registration is open already for individuals and relay teams and in March details will be released and entries open for the family group section of the walk. Everyone is encouraged to participate in what is hoped to be a record-breaking year.

2023 will be a fabulous year to join us on our annual Round Island Walk. Not only will it deliver a tremendous day taking in our wonderful coastal scenery and provide you with the satisfaction of taking part in Guernsey’s most challenging sponsored walk, but this year you will be helping us celebrate two major milestones. Our 2023 walk will be our 25th Round Island Walk and happily it coincides with the 100th Anniversary of the foundation of Rotary in Guernsey, since which time it has continued to serve the community of our Bailiwick. Don’t forget, if you are planning to undertake the walk in full or in parts with friends or work mates our relay team registration is also open. In March we will be launching once again our ‘Guernsey Family Walk’. An opportunity for families to come together and enjoy a slightly more leisurely walk down the East Coast, yet still enjoying the fun of being part of our 25th celebrations at the Finish in the heart of St Peter Port’s harbour front. CLICK HERE now to secure your registration and be part of one of Guernsey’s most longstanding public sponsored events  …  and enjoy wearing our, now famous, bright orange walk shirt. Please help us by spreading the word. Let’s make our 25th Walk very special day – for those directly involved and for the charities in our Bailiwick that we will be helping. See you there!