Mountbatten’s iconic Walk the Wight is back on May 8 – and Islanders are being urged to help the event get back to its bustling best, after two years of being limited by lockdowns.
Covid impacted the last two walks, but it’s hoped that this year’s will pull in pre-pandemic numbers of around 8,000.
“Walk the Wight is our flagship event and it is really important that it is successful this year,” said Nigel Hartley, Mountbatten CEO, as registrations opened at the end of January.
There was a virtual walk two years ago and a scaled-down version last September, but with things now easing around Covid, organisers are keen to get Walk the Wight back to full steam.
“The money raised makes a huge difference, enabling us to keep helping more Island people who need us” said Mr Hartley.
This year’s walk is also going Green, with several new measures to make it eco-friendly.
The Island’s sustainable clothing brand,Teemill, is making all the walker T-shirts, which will be an optional extra, in exchange for a £10 donation, to avoid wastage.
Other initiatives include recycled lanyards for the medals and recyclable water bottles at all drinks stations.
Walker packs will be largely electronic to save paper and printing costs.
As ever, the main 26.5-mile walk starts at Bembridge and finishes at Alum Bay. There’s the option to walk either the first or second half, as well as the eight-mile Flat Walk from Sandown to Newport.
The Schools Walk the Wight, covering the final four miles of the main route, is also returning.
For more information and to register, visit www.mountbatten.org.uk.