The BAPS
Annual National Sponsored Walk was held on Sun 2 April 2006
at all BAPS Swaminarayan Mandirs and Centres across the UK in
London, Leicester, Ashton, Birmingham, Wellingborough, Loughborough,
Nottingham and Cardiff.
Inspired
by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, this year's walk was
once again an outstanding success. Over 2000 participants walked
for 10km in various centres throughout the country. Walkers
between the age of 7 and 90 participated.
The walk
at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden, London, commenced
at 9am from the Ceremonial Gate of the Mandir with the performance
of Vedic rituals by the sadhus in the presence of The Lord Mayor
of Brent, Columbus Moloney and Tony McNulty, MP for Harrow East
and Minister of State for Immigration.
The route
was stewarded by the BAPS volunteers and medical assistance
was also provided. Arrangements for cold drinks and fruits were
also made at rest points. The event was managed by over 100
volunteers.
Young boys
and girls between the age of 4 and 7 also participated in their
own mini-walk around the perimeters of the Mandir completing
11 rounds.
This year,
participants contacted over 35,000 people to obtain sponsorships.
The funds raised from this year's Sponsored Walk will be used
by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha for its various charitable –
social, cultural, moral, educational and humanitarian –
activities.
On Saturday 8 April 2006 during the Shri Swaminarayan Jayanti
celebrations, prizes were presented for the Sponsored Walk in
two categories: ‘Most Sponsors Contacted’ and ‘Most
Funds Raised’ across four age groups – Bal-Balika,
Kishore-Kishori, Yuvak-Yuvati and Sanyukta-Mahila age groups.
The trophies were a token of the hard work and efforts put in
by the devotees to raise funds for the charities.