Kentish Express Ashford & District
Ramble on with Rotary fundraiser
Preparations are under way for Ashford Rotary Club’s annual ramble, with participants able to raise money for charity.
The walk is on Sunday, September 11 and the 40 plus years that the event has been running, hundreds of thousands of pounds has been raised for local, national and international charities.
There’s a choice of five or 10-mile walks with easy to follow route markers, St John Ambulance on hand in case of emergencies, refreshments at suitable intervals and even a pub en route.
To take part turn up on the day. You could enter a team of friends who would enjoy a leisurely walk over the Downs, starting and finishing at Wye Village Hall.
Burgers and bacon butties will be available on your return and there’s even a treasure hunt to keep children amused on the way. Dogs are welcome too.
If you don’t have a favourite charity, Ashford Rotary Club would welcome a contribution.
For more go to https://www. rotary1120.org/ The Kingsnorth Parish Council clerk is preparing for the challenge of swimming in open water in central London.
Len Bunn has been offered the chance to take part in the London Marathon’s newest 2016 swimming event, Swim Serpentine.
Seventy year old Mr Bunn will swim one mile on September 24 in the lake in aid of Diabetes UK.
It is expected to be the largest mass participation swimming event to be held in the UK with around 6,000 entries.
Mr Bunn, who is a Type 2 diabetic, said: “Without the support of Diabetes UK and the Paula Carr Diabetic Centre Ashford, I would still be unable to walk more or less unaided, although on some days with difficulty, or work as I am able to do now. The Serpentine in Hyde Park
“They have given me my life back and I want others to benefit from their work.
“One day there will be a cure for diabetes Type 1 and Type 2 and this can only happen with the help of organisations such as Diabetes UK and the Paula Carr Diabetic Centre in Ashford.”
Mr Bunn entered the Swim22 event earlier this year where he was given eight weeks to swim 22 miles. He completed it in four weeks and finally swam 40 miles.
Mr Bunn continued: “Swimming in open waters will be a completely different matter.
“However, I always compete in the Boxing Day dip challenge from the Sunny Sands beach in Folkestone and last year’s experience with strong winds coupled with a very strong undercurrent certainly made that a challenge I will never forget.”
Mr Bunn is training in the Ashford International Hotel pool, and the hotel will hold a reception after the swim with the Mayor of Ashford, Cllr George Koowaree.
To donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/LeonardBunn