15th May 2005 was The Day, and TSH (The Saracen's Head) was The Place

The Day dawned cloudy and cool but, most importantly, DRY. Five hundred and seventy walkers from near and far, Southport and Liverpool to Bristol, converged on The
Saracen's Head for the Annual Charity Walk 2005. Every step they took earned money for their chosen charities - in all, more than £50,000 (YES, FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS!) for almost 100 charitable causes.

Step forward, everyone who took part, and take a bow. Your hard work has meant that life will be that little bit better, that little bit easier, for so many people.

As well as acting as Intrepid Stewards, various Rotarians were spotted snapping away with their Box Brownies. As we don't have any members called Beadle, you can rest assured that what you see is what you get!
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   Early in the morning, well, relatively early in the morning,
our Intrepid Stewards were out all along the Walk course, putting up signs and gazebos and desks and generally making sure that all was ready. Then, for a few minutes, came the quiet before the storm...

   ...after which, even if we had not come prepared with watches and mobile phones which tell the time, we could have guessed that start time had arrived. The advance guard of the five hundred and seventy walkers arrived,
including one party which had chartered a bus.

   Full of keenness and enthusiasm, a large number of you arrived on the dot of opening time, and waited patiently (thank-you!!!) while we registered everyone. Sometimes it can all seem very bureaucratic, but by registering everyone, we are following best advice on risk assessment etc.

   As well as hundreds of individual walkers, there were a goodly number of groups walking for various charities. Team kit was everywhere to be seen, some of it conventional, and some of it showing considerable imagination (at least!)

   Walking as a group has good sides and bad sides. The good side is that there is always someone there to help if you feel you can't go on any further. The bad side is that there is always someone there to see if you feel you can't go on any further! But, when all is said and done, all 570 walkers were volunteers, and everyone a winner!

   The route along the canal bank goes through and past a varied range of scenery, and unlike a road course walkers are not constantly having to look out for idiot drivers coming up behind! AND, as far as we know, no-one went swimming this year....

   ....apart from our feathered friend, with the junior contingent, but of course that's alright: they weren't registered for the walk!

   The Annual Charity Walk is an event which appeals to all ages. The walkers this year ranged from youngsters to octogenarians, and this goes to show that no particular generation has a monopoly on doing good.

   The Rotary Clubs' Motto is "Service Above Self" and
everyone who participated in the Walk showed that they know what this means!

   And at the end of The Day? A lot of tired feet, tired walkers, tired Intrepid Stewards? Yes, certainly. But also a lot of satisfaction in having worked for other, less fortunate, people.

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And will you do it all again next year? We hope so. Keep an eye on this website to follow developments. And if you have any bright ideas to improve the Walk Experience, send us an e-mail. We won't promise to adopt every suggestion, but we do promise to read and consider every suggestion.

Now, would you like to go back to our Home page? Or back to Walk Central, for the latest on the next Walk?