The Bridge the Gap charity walk was applauded as a shining example of community outreach, and the value of volunteering, by the University of Cambridge Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alison Richard, at a presentation of prizes and cheques, held at the Old Schools.

“The University is part and parcel of the local community – and to flourish it needs that community to be flourishing too,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see the Colleges throwing their doors and gateways open to local people, and working together for a common purpose.”

The most recent Bridge the Gap walk, staged in early September, attracted 1,600 walkers who completed a five-mile route that took them through eight different Colleges – starting with St John’s and ending with Jesus - and the Museum of Zoology.

The event raised around £27,000 for local charities. The sum was split three ways between Press Relief, Arthur Rank House and the Papworth Trust. Since it was set up five years ago, the walk has raised almost £200,000.

Andy Gough, Chair of Press Relief and Chief Executive of Cambridge News, said that the walk had two benefits. Not only did it raise substantial funds for local charities, but it brought people into the Colleges to “marvel at those wonderful buildings”.

He said: “By inviting people to see what lies behind the College walls, the walk helps to generate in local people a sense of pride in the history and worldwide importance of Cambridge.”

The Vice-Chancellor presented cheques to representatives of the charities benefiting.

Pat Dalrymple from Arthur Rank Hospice explained that the money would be used for the new Hospice at Home team. Sarah Coward from the Papworth Trust said that funding would help to support adults with disabilities to live independently.

Professor Richard also gave prizes to individual walkers to celebrate their efforts. Prizes included tickets to Duxford Autumn Air Show, guided tours of King’s College Chapel roof, dinner at the Riverside Restaurant, and Scudamore’s punting trips. All were donated.

Cambridge resident Brenda Chapman won the prize for highest sponsored adult and Caitlin Pearson, 11, won a bicycle and MP3 player for highest sponsored child. A pupil at St Mary’s Junior School, Caitlin said: “I really enjoyed the walk as I’d never been inside any of the Colleges before.”

A team of more than 40 walkers from Cambridge University Press won a prize for raising the largest sponsorship sum, totalling over £1,300. The fancy dress prize went to Simon Crowhurst, Senior Research Technician at the Department of Earth Sciences, and member of the Sedgwick Museum team. He did the entire walk with his head inside a giant dinosaur mask, guided by a colleague.

The annual Bridge the Gap walk is organised jointly by the University of Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, Arthur Rank Hospice, and Cambridge News.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence. If you use this content on your site please link back to this page.