Congratulations and thank you to the 152 participants (plus dogs in CRY t-shirts!) who took part in the 3rd CRY Durham Riverside Walk on Saturday 6th October 2012, on one of the sunniest and warmest autumn days this year.
The numbers taking part this year were slightly above those of 2011, thanks to the efforts of our supporters who actively promoted the event. As in the two previous years, it was a poignant yet positive occasion. It was very moving to see everyone coming together to walk in memory of a friend or family member. However, it was also an opportunity for people to meet up with friends and CRY staff, as well as raising awareness of CRY’s ongoing work to help reduce the incidence of young sudden cardiac death.
The walk was attended by CRY staff Rebecca Zouvani, Fundraising Manager; Cara MacMillan, Events Fundraiser; and Tony Hill, Family Screening Manager. Tony kindly drove the CRY team and equipment/literature all the way from Surrey to Durham and back in the CRY van. Walkers began to assemble in Durham Amateur Rowing Club for registration and a welcome cup of coffee. Participants checked in and picked up a balloon and had a chat with each other whilst we waited for everyone to arrive. CRY staff, and photographer Ian Cooper, took details and photographs for the local press.
Many people who took part walked in memory of a young person who they had lost to young sudden cardiac death, including Kasia Ber, Ian Bowen, Leslie Elkington, David Elliot, Dean Henderson, Ian Johnson, Faye Linton, Paul McGlynn, Levon Morland, Sam Wright, Sara Pilkington and Stewart McEwan. This year we welcomed back a team of young walkers from the F.C Easington football club, walking with the Ber team. Thank you.
Just before midday, once everyone had checked in, we assembled outside. Rebecca Zouvani, CRY Fundraising Manager, made a short speech to thank everyone for coming and introduced Jeff Morland, who spoke about his support of CRY. He then introduced the Chair of Durham County Council, Councillor Linda Marshall and her consort Councillor David Marshall.
Councillor Linda Marshall officially started the walk after a short speech about her longstanding support of CRY, including CRY being one of her official charities for the year. Finally, everyone joined in the short, motivating warm-up led by Diane Carr of Lifestyle Fitness (Freemans Quay, Durham) who kindly donated her time and handed out free swim passes and day passes for Lifestyle Fitness. This was much appreciated.
After photographs, including press photographs, the walkers (some with baby buggies and toddlers) and their dogs set off on the walk, picking up a bottle of water and a cereal or chocolate bar on the way. Following the beautiful River Wear, walkers had a striking view of Durham Cathedral. The autumnal sunshine and colours of the trees lining the river bank provided a stunning backdrop for the walk.
After crossing Bath Bridge and breaking away from the river momentarily for a detour, the 7km route looped back around to finish at Durham Amateur Rowing Club, where each walker was welcomed back by CRY Representatives Kenny and Maralyn Bowen, and presented with a certificate, feedback form and complimentary CRY pen to complete their feedback form. Kenny Bowen also led a group of walkers who wished to take part in the slightly shorter, wheelchair friendly version of the walk.
The Rowing Club kindly opened the bar and provided delicious toasties for CRY staff and the walkers on their return. Everyone seemed to enjoy the day and most people stayed outside with their food and drinks, making the most of the sunshine. We would love to see everyone again next year and hope to see some more new faces too.
We are hoping to hold the event on the 5th October next year, so please provisionally keep this date free. If you would like to know when a date has been confirmed for 2013 please email [email protected]. We never forget that most of the walkers who take part in the ‘Durham Riverside Walk’ do so for a very personal reason – and all of us at CRY appreciate their tremendous effort and courage.
We are very grateful to the following companies and organisations for their support of this event: Durham Amateur Rowing Club for providing a great venue at a discount and to Mark Bell and his team for making us so welcome. Northumbrian Water for kindly donating bottles of water Joe Crow and Radflex for donating chocolate bars Radisson Blu. Durham Hotel for donating accommodation and breakfast at their luxury hotel for our staff Lifestyle Fitness for providing a fitness instructor and free swim vouchers and day passes for the gym. 
Thank you to all our volunteers for all their help before, during and after the event – organising and attending meetings; promoting; driving; taking deliveries; pre-event telephone calls and emails; marshalling; marking out the route; designing the walk leaflet and booklet; distributing walk leaflets; providing first aid cover; registering walkers; inflating balloons; warm up; handing out water, chocolate bars, certificates and forms; and clearing up.
We really couldn’t run an event like this, so far from the CRY office, without the help of dedicated volunteers: Debbie Anderson; Beryl Anderson; John and Diane Ber; Kenny and Maralyn Bowen; Lucy Clifford-McBrinn; Janette Pollard; Allison Johnston; David (Joe) Crow; Mark Gilbank; Bruce Lowes; Jeff Morland; Steve Percival; Carolyn King; Danielle Headley; Diane Carr; Sue Ainsworth; Jean Johnson and Gary Tidbury. We really appreciated the time and help of all of the volunteers and special thanks to Jeff Morland and Steve Percival for once again making it all happen. Thank you also to the participants who kindly helped with media for the walk. This resulted in several pieces appearing in the press as well as local radio interviews. We hope you like the photos.
If you participated in the walk and took photos which you would like to see included here, please send them to [email protected] with the subject ‘Durham Walk 2012 photos’. Please also contact [email protected] if you would like to be emailed any of the photos on these pages. Photos by Ian Cooper, Steve Percival, John Thirlwall and CRY staff Additional photos can be found on John Thirlwall’s website www.riteimage.co.uk/CRY
