CHARITY WALK RAISES OVER £3,000 FOR VISYON & UKRAINE

Following my sponsored walk from Alderley Edge to Manchester on Friday 13th May, I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who sponsored me or supported me in any way with the event. Cllr Rob Moreton and his team set off from Congleton at around 7.15am and I joined them at the Alderley Edge Ward Boundary by the junction with Whitebarn Road and Congleton Road when they arrived at about 10.30am. After a brief pit stop for a coffee in Alderley Edge, we continued on towards Manchester carrying collection buckets, as well as blue and yellow balloons.

After arriving in Wilmslow, we walked along Grove Street where we were delighted to be stopped by two Ukrainian refugees who introduced themselves to us and thanked us for what we were doing; they also asked to have their photographs taken with us. At around 12.30pm we arrived in Handforth, where we had another brief pit stop to pick up another coffee and a bacon sandwich, before continuing our journey towards Cheadle Royal and then onwards into Manchester. We were supported along the way by a number of car drivers, who honked their horns as they drove past, with some pulling over to make donations.

The final three miles of our journey, from Parrswood to Manchester City Centre were hard going; our feet and muscles started to ache as we knew we were getting closer, but still feeling like we were a long way from the finishing line. We finally arrived in St Peter's Square, where we crossed the finishing line to the tune of the Town Crier's Bell and rapturous applause from locals as well as our support team. After the obligatory photographs to prove we had actually done it, we retired to a local hostelry for a well-earned rest and some equally well-earned liquid refreshment.

Now that the final tallying up has been done, we are delighted to report that our efforts raised £2,966 in advance sponsorship for the youth mental health charity, Visyon (www.visyon.org.uk) and a further £356 in donations received on the day towards the British Red Cross Ukraine Appeal. Once again, on behalf of Rob & myself can I say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who contributed and supported us.