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One of Guernsey’s largest charity fundraising events has acquired a new sponsor and with this a total rebrand.
Previously known as the Itex Rotary Walk, local firm Saffery Champness has taken over the sponsorship of this community event for a significant minimum commitment of three years.
The walk in Guernsey is now known as the “Saffery Champness Rotary Walk” and it will continue to raise vital funds for a range of charities in Guernsey.
As well as providing essential funds needed to run the event staff from Saffery Champness will play a key role in the walk’s organisation alongside partners Rotary de la Guernesiais and Rotary Club of Guernsey.
Director Lisa Vizia, together with additional staff from Saffery Champness, will be joining the organising committee, which will also decide which local charities will benefit from funds raised this year.
“We have a strong commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility and it forms part of the culture at Saffery Champness. To have the opportunity to sponsor such a well-established and supported event, and more importantly one that raises so much money for local charities, really met all of our requirements. We are going to support Rotary to try and raise as much money as possible,” said Miss Vizia.
Saffery Champness has supported the Walk for years by manning one of the checkpoints along the route, providing weary walkers with much needed support, water and refreshments.
Nick Batiste, Director at Saffery Champness, said: “We have a long standing involvement with the Walk. We are told by Rotary that, thanks to our team of volunteers, our Chouet checkpoint has become one of the most popular and well run checkpoints of the Walk. We already have a team of staff members who have signed up to support the Walk again.”
Since its inception in 1998 the 39 mile around the island walk attracts approximately 600 walkers each year and has raised more than £550,000 for local charities.
The criteria set by Rotary means that money raised goes to Guernsey-registered charities for funding for a specific project or piece of equipment.
C5 Alliance Group, who acquired Itex holdings in 2013, will continue to have involvement in the Saffery Champness Rotary Walk. Managing director of the C5 Alliance Group in Guernsey, Marc Lainé said the business wanted to facilitate and continue the positive efforts already established by the annual charity walk.
“We will be working towards digitally enabling the walk going forward, bringing new features that modernise the registration, tracking and monitoring process. We look forward to working with the new Saffery Champness Rotary Walk team to help raise as much money as possible for so many worthy causes in the island.”
David Mortimer, chairman of the walk organising committee, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have reached this agreement with Saffery Champness. The company and its staff have supported the event for many years as sponsor of the Chouet check point where they provide welcome refreshment and encouragement to walkers. I am sure that with Saffery's involvement we can build an even bigger event in the coming years and the committee looks forward to working closely with the Saffery's team."
The Saffery Champness Rotary Walk will take place on Saturday 7 June.
Online registration will be available soon. In the meantime walkers can confirm their intention to participate via email to guernseyrotarywalk@gmail.com. Walkers can choose to register to complete the entire route or any part of it.
