Charities and community groups can benefit from a digitally enhanced fund-raising walk to be held on 4 September 2021.
East Hampshire District Council and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Elders Association are teaming up again to deliver the 2021 Charity Walk for Peace - and local organisations can apply now to receive funding.
Held annually, except for a pandemic-related break in 2020, the walk normally sees hundreds stride through Petersfield town centre to raise money for local good causes.
This year, due to the ongoing uncertainty around coronavirus, the event will be going digital. A small walk will still be based in Petersfield but communities around the district will also be encouraged to organise their own mini-walks.
Videos, pictures and online streaming of the various walks will help the event keep its grand scale, even if the participants cannot gather in person.
Each year different charities are chosen to be beneficiaries of the event, and local groups are now invited to apply to receive a share of the proceeds from this September’s walk.
They have until 5pm on Friday 16 July to submit their applications.
Find out more and apply for Charity Walk for Peace funding
Cllr Julie Butler, EHDC Portfolio Holder for Welfare and Community Integration, said: “The Charity Walk for Peace has been growing every year and raised more than £15,000 for local charities in 2019.
"During the pandemic a lot of local groups and charities have really struggled to keep going, so fund-raising events like this are more important than ever.
"If you run a group that needs financial support please apply and you may be chosen to receive some of the money generated by this year’s walk."
M Zakariyya Choudhry, Regional Head of the AMEA, said: “It was frustrating to see the progress of this great event interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic last year and it has been a difficult time for everybody.
"This year we have had to tweak the event to make sure we can comply with any likely Covid restrictions so people will be able to take part by arranging their own walks through their own communities.
"Even though we will not be able to gather like we have done in the past, the event will still carry the unifying message of love for all and hatred for none, which is the message of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.”