Clarendon Way walkers support children's hospice

The Clarendon Way Walk is one of the biggest events of the year for Naomi House and Jacksplace children's hospice.

It usually raises around £100,000 for the charity each year and should have taken place in June but Covid -19 has meant the event had to be postponed.

Today (Sunday 13th September) more than 370 supporters will take on the 26 mile route from Winchester Cathedral to Salisbury Cathedral.

A shorter 12 mile version from Broughton to Salisbury is also being held whilst 55 people are taking part in a virtual version.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS TIME?

There'll be staggered starts for the walkers to maintain social distancing.

Parts of the route like the toilets and rest stops will undergo higher levels of cleaning.

Keith Wilson, Head of Marketing at Naomi House & Jacksplace said:

"Naomi House & Jacksplace is well known for its quality fundraising events, and we have desperately missed the buzz, excitement and camaraderie of events like the Clarendon Way Walk throughout lockdown. We are delighted to now be able to host this major event in a safe and socially distanced manner and are enormously grateful to everyone who made this possible, especially our friends at ATR Winchester and cleaning partners, ElectroClean.

The Clarendon Way nightwalk and the ultra-distance version, with walkers taking on a 52 mile route, can't go ahead this year.

It's hoped they'll have around 350 people taking part in the walk.

All the money raised from the walk goes towards Naomi House and Jacksplace's work with children and young adults living with life-limiting conditions.

It costs £9.2 million every year to keep the hospice and its services running.

The charity's struggled with funding this year, due to events being cancelled, and their shops being closed.

You can sign up for the Clarendon Way Walk via the Naomi House website.