On Sunday 27 April 03, nineteen Air Cadets and four staff from 121 (Nuneaton) Squadron ATC donned their walking boots and joined many other walkers at Sandon Park in Nuneaton as they prepared to set of on the 2003 'Rotarywalk'. The 'Rotarywalk' is an annual sponsored walk organised by the Nuneaton branch of Rotary International. The walk covers a twenty-one mile circular route around the rural outskirts of Nuneaton using bridle ways, footpaths, canal towpaths and the occasional minor roads. There are two shorter walks of five or eight miles for those who don't fancy tackling the demanding twenty-one miler.

The "Rotarywalk" is quite a unique and effective way of helping local charity organisations to raise funds for their own good causes, the Rotary Club organises everything including refreshments and marshals all you have to do is get some sponsors, oh, and you also have to do the walking.

Chris Mountford, Nuneaton Rotary Club Walk organiser said that a keen hiker can complete the twenty-one mile circuit which takes in local beauty spots such as Hartshill Hayes, Arbury Hall and Higham-on-the-hill in under nine hours.

Unfortunately it took the Air Cadet groups a little longer than expected. The staff group however managed to complete the walk coming in way ahead of the cadets however, someone forgot to tell their feet that they were attached to keen hikers. Believe me, twenty-one miles is not just a relaxing Sunday afternoon stroll. I reckon it's going to be several days before some of our group will be able to walk without pain.

In the past the Squadron has used this event to raise funds for the Mary Anne Evans Hospice but this year the Air Cadet contingent was walking in order to give a much-needed boost to our own Squadron funds. We will let you know how mush we have managed to collect this year as soon as we have all the details.

The cadets and staff of 121 (Nuneaton) Squadron would like to take this opportunity to thank all those people who so generously sponsored us and would also thank the members of the Nuneaton branch of Rotary International for organising the event. We look forward to taking part in the 2004 "Rotarywalk" and would encourage other charitable groups within the Nuneaton area to do the same, It's a fantastic way to raise funds for good causes. Well done to all those who took part in this years "Rotarywalk".

Further reading
Mary Ann Evans Hospice benefits from long walk.
Nuneaton 'Rotarywalk' web-site