Brum's Walkathon is back in aid of Help Harry Help Others and four other family charities Don't miss out with our parenting newsletter We have more newsletters Birmingham Walkathon is back for the first time after a 10 year break. The iconic event is being restored by Georgie Moseley to raise funds for Help Harry Help Others. First launched in 1983, the Walkathon was an annual institution which saw families pounding the streets for 26 gruelling miles. Whilst this mighty route is still the main event, Georgie has taken moves to make the event more accessible by also offering people the chance to get involved by completing a set number of laps around Kings Heath Park. Over the years the walk has attracted, on average, 10,000 people annually and has raised over £5 million to date. Created by former BRMB director David Bagley, the event also aims to reduce isolation and tackle loneliness, by creating a ‘Buddy check in area’ for people attending alone so they can walk together and form friendships. Read more: The bombastic Birmingham Walkathons of the 1980s in pictures David is working with Georgie to bring the Walkathon back to the city. Listen to Georgie talking about the event - and her passion to keep helping Harry to help others - on the Brummie Mummies podcast here : When is the Birmingham Walkathon 2023? The Birmingham Walkathon is taking place on Sunday April 2. Proceedings start at 8am, with a GoodGym warm up at 8:10am and walkers embarking on the full route crossing the start line at 8.30am. The event previously ran from 1983 to 1994 then returned in 2012 when it was renamed the Walk for Harry in memory of Harry Moseley , from Sheldon , who raised thousands of pounds for
cancer Research
UK after being diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2007. He sadly lost his battle with cancer in 2011, aged just 11 years old. Harry wanted to bring people together and make a difference to all those affected by cancer. Georgie decided to bring the famous Walkathon back as an annual event to help Brummies feel motivated and connected whilst raising vital funds for her charity's cancer support centre. What is the Birmingham Walkathon route? It follows the number 11 outer circle bus route around the city. There are two starting points to choose from. You can start from Kings Heath Park or Rookery Park in Erdington. There are eight checkpoints along the route, including the finish line. These are: Metchley Park in Harborne Summerfield in Smethwick Handsworth Park in Handsworth Brookvale Park near Witton Rookery Park in Erdington Cotterills Lane in Alum Rock Oaklands Rec Ground in Acocks Green Sarehole Mill in Hall Green Kings Heath Park in Kings Heath Obviously, if you start at Rookery Park, you'll reach Kings Heath Park midway though. Those who complete the route will receive a medal at the end. Birmingham Walkathon 2023 route What are the shorter Birmingham Walkathon routes? There are alternative routes for those keen to take part but concerned about tackling the full 26 miles. The Half Marathon is approximately 11 miles and goes from Rookery Park. It has three checkpoints to rest at along the way, making it a great challenge for those who don’t walk so much or have younger family members. Then there is the Believe 2 Achieve Walk which is new for 2023. It involves participants pledging to walk one, three, five or 10 laps around Kings Heath Park. What is the Birmingham Walkathon in aid of? It's raising money for Help Harry Help Others and five other charities, including Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid, NSPCC, Birmingham Mind and Birmingham Children's Hospital. Georgie said: "We're trying to tackle issues around mental health, domestic abuse and a couple of children's charities. All the money comes back to our beautiful city helping all of our people. "I'm hoping it will be an annual event that will make a real difference to Birmingham. For us, it's about keeping our charity centre going. I'm hoping this will be our annual event for the community." How much does it cost to do the Birmingham Walkathon? It's free to sign up. Organisers then ask that people raise a minimum of £50. Georgie said: "I think anyone of a certain age will remember what used to be the BRMB Walkathon which ran for many years in Birmingham. To me, when I think of Birmingham, that's one of the heritage events and I thought let's bring it back. "You can do the full route but I'm trying to make the walk inclusive for all ages and abilities so you can either do a 11 miles or a number of 0.6 mile laps around Kings Heath. Who are we to say what is a challenge for someone? You measure your own success, don't let others dictate it." Are there any road closures for the Birmingham Walkathon? Organisers are pleased to announce there are no planned road closures for the Birmingham Walkathon 2023. How do I register for the Birmingham Walkathon 2023? You simply register for the walk you would like to complete. Whilst it's free to enter, there's a small registration fee to help contribute towards running the event. Register via the Pertemps Birmingham Walkathon website The event is open to individuals, families, organisations and community groups to take part. Once registered, you'll be given your own fundraising page on the Birmingham Walkathon site, which you can share withl
Friends, family, loved ones or colleagues. People are encouraged to fundraise locally, at home, at work or on
Social Media. Participants will then receive an event pack with further information on the event. Volunteers are also being recruited too. Our Brummie Mummies
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Instagram pages are packed full of family things to do. Si gn up to our Brummie Mummies newsletter and listen to our podcasts Read next: Birmingham's famous Walkathon returns to Help Harry Help Others Birmingham's Walkathon brought festival atmosphere to the streets in the 80s Easter things to do around Birmingham Birmingham Pride 2023 announces Sugababes are to headline as full Saturday line-up revealed