A great big thank you ...
to all who braved the heat and helped to make it another really successful year allowing us to give grants out to those churches who need it so desperately.
The heat was definitely this year’s challenge, after last year being two days after the Queen’s death, this year last-minute reminders were sent to churches to make sure they provided water and perhaps open earlier. Many riders and striders did start early and may not have signed registers if churches weren’t open. They were assured that they could shorten their routes and that sponsors wouldn’t mind! Most sponsors give a lump sum rather than an amount per church visited.
Most churches were open as promised and Riders and Striders really appreciated the respite from the sun in our historic churches and welcome cold drinks. Around 295 (308 in 2022) churches took part and of them 201 (187 in 2022) were manned for at least part of the time, 107 (89 in 2022) open with a register available and 24 (32 in 2022) with just a register outside. Numbers recorded on the registers are down, but we are hoping that sponsorship would already have been sorted and that the income money would not be affected too much. By December 31st 2023, 153 churches had sent sponsor money to our Treasurer.