Bridget Glynne-Jones, an office manager for the Wey & Arun Canal Trust, has announced ambitious plans for a 36-mile walk in one day, raising money for the Canal Trust and Macmillan Cancer Relief. This stroll will be a training exercise for a more demanding 9-day walk along the Great Wall of China that Bridget plans to undertake in October 2006.

The Canal Trust is a registered charity and aims to restore the historic waterway route between the River Wey at Shalford, near Guildford, Surrey and the River Arun at Pallingham, near Pulborough, Sussex. Appropriately, Bridget will aim to walk the length of the Wey-South Path, which runs from Millmead Lock in Guildford (near the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre) to Amberley on the River Arun in West Sussex.

The Wey-South Path follows the canal route as closely as possible, using public footpaths, and a detailed guide is available from the Canal Trust.

Bridget has committed to raise at least £2,700 for Macmillan Cancer Relief from the Great Wall walk and normally a small part of this would go towards the costs of the trip. However, Bridget is determined to cover the costs herself, so the charity will get the maximum possible benefit. Bridget will split the proceeds of the Wey-South walk equally between the Canal Trust and Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Bridget is a keen walker but has never attempted such a distance in a day before. Some 2 years ago, she did walk a marathon distance (26.2 miles) in the middle of the night, in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Bridget has chosen Saturday, June 17th for the walk, when maximum daylight will be available.

The Wey & Arun Canal Trust enthusiastically supports Bridget's enterprise. The Trust is currently raising money to extend the navigable length of the canal by building a new road crossing in Loxwood, West Sussex. Bridget's choice of Macmillan Cancer Relief as the other charity that will benefit is also very appropriate. The Canal Trust lost one of its most valuable volunteers, Winston Harwood, to cancer in September 2005.

The Canal Trust's office will be co-ordinating sponsorship and other support for Bridget's walk. If you would like to help, please contact the office (01403 752403, office@weyandarun.co.uk). Further information and a sponsorship form is available here...