Over 100,000 carers in Norfolk provide unpaid support to ill, older or disabled family members, friends or partners. These unsung heroes are thought to save local authority and NHS services in Norfolk £500 million a year, but they face many challenges and can become isolated without support.

Walking4Norfolk, who is organising the Walk to Walsingham, works to raise awareness and funds to support these amazing carers in their invaluable, and often unrecognised and challenging, role. Norfolk Community Foundation is proud to support Walking4Norfolk by collecting, managing and distributing funds raised to local voluntary organisations throughout the county who care for and support our carers, ensuring that funds are targeted where the need is greatest.

The Walk to Walsingham, taking place over 3 days from Friday 20 September to Sunday 22 September, will follow an ancient pilgrimage route, beginning at Norwich Cathedral and ending in Walsingham on the Sunday. The stages of the walk will be:

• Day 1: Norwich Cathedral to Lyng (15 miles)
• Day 2: Lyng to Great Ryburgh (12 miles)
• Day 3: Great Ryburgh to Walsingham (8 miles).

The walk will launch from Norwich Cathedral at 9.15am on the morning of 20th September, with the Bishop of Norwich sending walkers off with a short service at 9.30am and the High Sheriff of Norfolk, Lady Clare Agnew, in attendance. People can choose to walk part of the route, or set themselves a real challenge by walking the whole stretch. The more people take part, the more funds will be raised to support the amazing unpaid carers in our local communities.

How to take part

Registration closes on 4th September; sign up via www.walking4norfolk.com/events

After registering, walkers will be able to attract sponsorship from their families, friends and contacts by setting up their own fundraising page on the Virgin Money Giving website, linking to the main Walking4Norfolk fundraising page by going to https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/walking4norfolk and clicking on ‘Start fundraising’ to create their own individual sponsorship page.

James Bagge, who was inspired to set up Walking4Norfolk, said:

“Walking4Norfolk has already raised £70,000 for local unpaid carers but this is nothing in the face of the need. The aim is for many more people to become involved and support these inspirational people whose efforts often go unnoticed. We all need to do what we can to support these amazing people in our midst. Let’s join together via Walking4Norfolk to champion these heroes in our community.”