Local charities were awarded £45,000 in a prizegiving ceremony held at the University of Cambridge on Tuesday.

The Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and Press Relief each received £22,500 as beneficiaries of the Bridge the Gap charity walk which takes place every year in September.

The walk, a five mile route through ten of the Colleges, takes in some of Cambridge’s most spectacular architecture.

This year saw a 2,700-strong turnout of walkers participating in the Sunday morning stroll with a difference, raising a record amount of money for charity.

Alfie Pearl, aged six, from Royston, was the top child fundraiser, bringing in £400. Alfie was presented with a BMX bike by the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz at the ceremony.

Ian Johnson from Linton headed up the top fundraising team which raised £2,842, winning a meal for four at the Quy Mill Hotel.

Kate Kirk was the top adult fundraiser, winning a high quality satchel donated by Cambridge Satchels. Swaffham Bulbeck Primary School claimed a £100 book voucher donated by Cambridge University Press.

Ellen Saunders, aged nine, from Cambridge, was the route quiz winner, solving clues along the walk to win an 8GB iPod Touch.

Roxanne Wells won a 4GB iPod nano for the best review of the event and Clare Tunstall from Comberton took the best photograph, winning a £50 John Lewis voucher for her photography skills.

Cambridge University Press took away the Munro Services Corporate Fundraising Trophy.

Dr Lynn Morgan, Chief Executive of the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, said: “The funds will go a long way in helping ensure that the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity can continue to fund life-enhancing care and support to patients and their loved ones, all of whom are affected by the complications presented by cancer and other life limiting illness.”

The money raised will be used for Day Therapy, which provides patients with practical and emotional support, enabling them to manage the complications presented by their illness so they can make the most out of their life. It will also support Hospice at Home which provides specialist end of life care for patients in their home.

Press Relief, the Cambridge News community fund awards grants to a variety of local causes with the aim to relieve poverty and advance the education, health and social welfare of the people of Cambridgeshire. Grants have recently been made to: Camsight, Cambridgeshire Mencap, Young Lives, Connections Youth Bus and Cam Mind.

Emma Wenborn, Community Affairs Officer at the University said: “Bridge the Gap is a great community initiative which enables local residents to explore the Colleges. We are delighted to have raised a record-breaking sum for these fantastic charities providing essential and caring services to our local community”.

The next Bridge the Gap Charity Walk will take place on Sunday 11 September 2011. For more information please visit: www.bridgethegapwalk.org or contact info@bridgethegapwalk.org 01223 723115.

The walk is co-organised by the University of Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge News, Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, Press Relief and the Rotary Club of Cambridge. It is headline-sponsored by Cambridge Building Society and supported by TTP, Greater Cambridge Partnership and Cambridge Assessment.

The 2010 walk included the sights of:
Magdalene College
St John’s College
Clare College
Corpus Christi College
St Catharine’s College
Darwin College
Pembroke College
Downing College
Christ’s College
Jesus College

Walkers were also encouraged to explore the checkpoints: The Polar Museum at the Scott Polar Research Institute and the Cambridge Union.
 

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