Hundreds joined in Ride and Stride fundraising event (From Basingstoke Gazette)
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Helping church preservation organisation hit fundraising target
1:00pm Wednesday 26th September 2012 in Local By Adam Richards
Ride and Stride churches event
HUNDREDS of walkers, cyclists and joggers chipped in to help a church preservation organisation hit its annual fundraising target.
The Hampshire and the Islands Historic Churches Trust held its popular Ride and Stride fund-|raising event in excellent weather.
People taking part were asked to visit as many of the 69 participating north Hampshire churches as they could.
During the day, 28 churches in the Basingstoke deanery opened their doors, as well as 24 in the Whitchurch area and 17 in Odiham.
Organisers hope that the day of church-visiting will top last year’s effort which netted £6,175. The trust’s chairman Lady Joan Appleyard said: “The weather was so kind and there was such a buzz in all the churches I managed to visit, that I’m very hopeful of a really excellent result. “We are hugely appreciative of all those cyclists, walkers and helpers who turned out to raise money for the trust. “Our churches are a vital part of our heritage, and there is an ever-increasing need for funds to keep these historic buildings in good repair.”
In the last two years, grants from the trust have helped to fund £10,000 for repairs to St Mary’s Church in Stratfield Saye, £4,000 for a bell restoration project at All Saints’ Church, in Dummer, and the refurbishment of 17th century bells at All Saints’ Church, in Hannington.
