Families invited to join Manvers celebration event

Living Streets, the national charity for everyday walking, is inviting people from across South Yorkshire to take part in their Lap The Lake sponsored walk event at Manvers Waterfront Boat Club in Wath on Sunday from 11am.

The event is an end-of-project celebration of the work that Living Streets has carried out in communities across Rotherham and its neighbouring authorities.

Project coordinator, Jim Shaw, said: “For over seven years we have been working with people in South Yorkshire to make small changes that make a big difference.

“Improving footways, installing a dropped kerb here, and a handrail or bench there, means that people can get about more easily in their communities, and older people can have their independence back.”

Janet Dennis, a Swinton resident benefitting from a recent Living Streets project, said: “The new dropped kerbs will make a big difference to me and a lot of other residents as we walk that route almost every day.

“These improvements have made the walk to the doctor's surgery and the shops safer and more comfortable.

“Walking is really important to me as it means that I can maintain my independence. It makes me feel good that I can still do it.”

Participants are invited to walk as many laps of Wath lake as they want between 11am and 2pm, with each flat, scenic circuit being one-and-a-quarter miles.

Each walker will be given a free pedometer at the start, and there will be activities for families on the way round to add to the fun.

There is also an on-site café so walkers can take a break and refresh between laps.

Jim added: “There’s nothing nicer than being out and about for a walk in the fresh air, getting your joints moving and the blood pumping. But we all sometimes need that little extra bit of motivation to get out of the door.

“Manvers Lake is a beautiful setting for a weekend walk with lots of wildlife to see - a real hidden gem.

“The walk is relatively flat and suitable for all ages and abilities. If people want to come along they can follow the link https://bit.ly/lapthelake to register and donate or fundraise, or they can simply turn up and register on the day after 11am, join in, and make a donation that way.

“We want as many people as possible to walk with us and help us fundraise to continue our work so that we can get more communities across South Yorkshire walking more.”