IT'S COMING! - THIS YEAR'S CHARITABLE FUN WALK BEGINNING ON 1 SEPTEMBER IS A RED LETTER DIARY EVENT

Here we are on 14th August and anticipation of our 2025 Fun Walk is climbing.  The team wishes all participants success in our September The Fun Walk. 

Our organisers are delighted to announce that over 80 organisations and 2,500 supporters are expected to take part in this year’s September Fun Walk, setting the stage for an outstanding charitable event. The Fun Walk offers a flexible and inclusive format, allowing supporters to complete their sponsored walk anytime and anywhere during the month. Participating charities receive sponsorship forms and guidance directly from the Fun Walk team, ensuring a smooth and successful experience for all involved. 

 There is still time for charities, local schools and churches, grass roots sports teams and other community interest groups to participate – they can register at https://thefunwalktrust.co.uk/ “We’re thrilled to see such incredible community spirit once again this year.” said John Baron, Chair of The Fun Walk Trust. “We wish every participating organisation great success in their fundraising efforts. Our Bonus Pot of over £32,000 could add an estimated 35%-40% bonus to the monies raised through sponsorship by participants – the more they raise, the bigger the bonus.” 

Our thanks go to our community-minded Bonus Pot sponsors which this year include Greater Anglia, Brown & Carroll (London), Sanctuary Housing Association, Equi Ltd, One Footstep (Human Kind Café, Billericay), Butyl Products Group, Tunnelcraft, c2c Rail, Mr Barrie Stone and others”.

 About the Fun Walk: John Baron and his team started the Fun Walk in 2002 to commemorate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. The event was so successful it became an annual one and one which continues to grow. To assist with its growth, in 2013 the Fun Walk became a registered Charity, and it is now officially known as The Fun Walk Trust (Registered Charity number: 1151626). The BONUS POT is a unique feature of the event, into which local businesses and individuals kindly donate, and which is then distributed to participating organisations on a pro rata basis in addition to the monies they themselves raise in sponsorship.

 The 2024 event raised £100,953 for local charities and community groups, and brought the total money raised since the Fun Walk’s inception to over £1,635,000. The Fun Walk Trust organises the walk and takes care of the paperwork, leaving the projects free to focus on raising sponsorship money and enjoying the event. The event is not confined to charities: any good cause or project may join us once approved by the Trust. For example, many pre-schools and schools, churches and community groups now regularly participate.

PHOENIXFM LATEST VISITS

 

STUDIO VISIT: Sylvia Kent and Rachel Arnold at Phoenix FM  The studio regularly hosts literary matters and we recently welcomed Sylvia Kent - respected local author, journalist, and long-time supporter of the arts - for our latest Book Club gathering. This is a monthly feature on Michelle Ward's morning show Eat My Brunch, although lots of authors also creep onto plenty of other shows on the station, too.

She came armed with all the latest from the Brentwood Writers' Circle, Billericay Readers, and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists - three groups that remain at the beating heart of our local literary scene.We also heard the newest instalment of her ever-popular 60 Second History feature.This month, she turned her attention to the fascinating tale of WH Smith, from Victorian newsstand to national institution to 21st-century demise.Joining Sylvia was a very special guest - Rachel Arnold, a multi-talented writer, singer, blogger, and former voice of this very station, too. Rachel opened up about her recent ADHD diagnosis in adulthood, and had a heartfelt and honest conversation about how it's shaped her life and creativity.Last week's column You can hear Sylvia and Rachel talking again at phoenixfm.com. Phoenix FM broadcasts from The Brentwood Centre in Brentwood, Essex. To check out the station's schedule, click here.