The Island Walk is a fantastic community event that relies on a huge team of volunteers, as well as sponsors, to ensure that everyone has a safe and fun walk and that every penny raised goes to charity. There are lots of local companies who help in supporting elements of the Walk, but the main sponsor is TMF Global. For their business it’s a big commitment and not just a financial one, but it’s all about community and teamwork. Tim Houghton, Market Head, Channel Islands, explains.
The Island Walk works on so many different levels. It’s a fantastic community event in itself and of course it’s supporting our local charities who are helping the most needy in our society. The fact it covers a number of charities rather than just focusing on one, is well received by our staff who enjoy the opportunity of supporting them as well as spending time out in the fresh air. Our sponsorship pays the costs of putting the walk on so that every penny raised can go directly to the charities.
We have some staff members who take on the full individual walk challenge, but we also have a relay team, and others who undertake the Lieutenant Governor’s walk. It’s a fantastic team building opportunity and it’s never been more important than ever, following covid, to focus on the health and wellbeing of all our staff. Walking is great for both physical fitness and mindfulness. One thing that should also never be overlooked is that it’s a wonderful opportunity to see parts of the Island that you wouldn’t normally go to, or perhaps have never seen. A great reminder of what a beautiful place we are lucky to call home.
We’ve been regularly meeting up for practice walks. Personally, I’m doing the Lieutenant Governor’s walk with some members of my family for the second year, but I’m building up to take on the main challenge. One thing I’m particularly pleased to see is that more of our younger staff members are getting engaged and doing the walk. We’re even bringing people over from the UK, Guernsey and the wider group.
Some of our staff don’t want to, or are unable to undertake the walk, but they are joining in by volunteering and supporting drink stations and handing out the well-earned medals at the end. Of course, our staff are just part of the huge army of volunteers who make this event happen. From the Trustees and organising committee, to all the local businesses and charities who people the checkpoints and make sure all walkers are well looked after.
Checkpoint support is being provided by: Jersey Cheshire Home, the 10th Jersey Scouts, Centrepoint, Autism Jersey, Air Training Corps, JSPCA, 6th Jersey Scouts, Wetwheels Foundation, Les Amis, the Jersey Land Rovers Owners Club, Royal Jersey Militia Army Cadet Force, Rotary International, Diabetes Jersey, Durrell, Age Concern, and Freedom Church. Plus Jersey Post help courier walkers’ bags around the course, Race Nation make it possible through their incredible app, Adapt Design support our website and Sure help provide the digital tracking technology for the event.
There are bacon and veggie rolls being cooked by the 3rd Jersey Scout Group, all the food for which has been donated by Easenmyne and Fox Trading. They’ve also donated all the bottles of water that walkers will receive along the way. Jersey Water will also provide tanks of water for you to fill up your TMF reusable bottles which are in your goodie bags. Plus Align Health Agency are providing two sports and remedial therapists and a sports and injury rehabilitation therapist, at the finish line. Finally, walking and running lifestyle store, Hapi, are donating £100 gift vouchers to the winners of our Instagram photo competition, so post lots of photos with the #islandwalkjsy hashtag and you could be a winner.
Just looking at the list of names and appreciating the hundreds of people who support this event, shows you what a huge community fundraiser this is. While events like this couldn’t take place without sponsors like us, they equally couldn’t happen without the dedication of all the volunteers and we’re incredibly proud that TMF and our staff are able to play our part in supporting the Island Walk.
Photograph shows just some of the TMF team on one of their practice walks: From L to R: Paul Cosgrove, Elsa Rocha-Abreu, Adrian Galvin and Gary Brady.
