On what started out as a rather damp day at the end of May, Syston Scout Group held a 20 mile sponsored walk, for the first time in 18 years.
There had been a little concern as to whether there would be enough interest in the walk, for it to be worthwhile undertaking all the organisation necessary for a safe, enjoyable and challenging event.
It was eventually decided that it was going to go ahead & the route was planned and walked, to check for suitability and access. A meeting was arranged with parents and supporters of Syston Scouts, which gave us about 20 people to undertake a number of jobs, such as checkpoint and road crossing marshals, refreshments, transport and communications.
It had been agreed that all the planning and organisation for the walk was going to be the same whether we had 10 or 110 people take part and that the ‘more the merrier’ was the motto for the day. With this in mind other scout groups and sections, were invited, to use our set-up, for them to raise money for their respective groups, by just making a small contribution to Syston Scout Group for the benefit of being able to turn up and take advantage of everything that had been planned on the day.
We had some members from 25th Leicester (Queniborough) and 115th Leicester (Highfields) Scout Groups take up our offer, plus some Sileby Guides, who are members of Syston Scout and Guide Band.
About 35 youngsters and some not so young, set out to walk the route. Not everyone could manage to complete the full distance, but a special tribute has to be made for the outstanding effort of six year old Beaver Scout, Leo Stocker, pictured above left, who did manage to cover the full 20 miles, walking with his Dad Marc, also a member of Syston Scout Group.