At 11am, participants started to set off from the rowing club and walk along the river, toward the city centre. Soon, there was a sea of CRY T-shirts visible to passers-by. Our walkers then crossed over the River Wear by bridge, taking in picturesque views of the famous Cathedral. Some may have chosen to go inside the Cathedral and light a candle during their walk, before joining up with the rest of the walkers, and travelling through the bustling Market Place.

As the afternoon progressed, walkers began to retrace their steps along the River Wear, possibly spotting some local rowers, before gradually returning to the club.

Once our wonderful supporters had completed the walk, they could collect their well-deserved medals and have a sit down, under the rowing club’s impressive canopy. Some chose to grab a drink, or some food from the club’s bar and kitchen, some spoke to other supporters and CRY staff, and for some, this was a time for quiet reflection. Supporters were also writing message cards in honour of their loved ones and pinning them up the message wall, in the CRY Support Marquee. Throughout the day, people were also adding messages and photos to the digital message wall up on the CRY website, to pay tribute to those they walked in memory of.