Surrey Hills Challenge to raise money for local Communities

13th May 2016

The Surrey Hills Challenge is set to be one of the biggest sporting challenges in Surrey next year with a series of running and walking events in the beautiful landscape of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) on Sunday 25th September 2016.

People of all ages and fitness can participate in four different running and walking challenges and raise money for local communities.

The Greensand Way will form the backdrop to the event where the super fit can face the ultimate challenge with ‘The Ultra’, a 60km run, ‘The Half’, no ordinary walk (or run) in the park of 21km, ‘The Ten’, a fast and furious 10km or ‘The Five’, a family challenge 5km event.

The challenges start in Haslemere, passes the Devil’s Punchbowl at Hindhead, traverses the main Surrey hills of Hascombe, Pitch, Holmbury and Leith Hill, before descending north to Dorking. Much of the route is rolling hills, woodland trails, fields and footpaths providing participants with glorious views.

Wendy Varcoe, Executive Director of the Community Foundation for Surrey explains;

“This is a fantastic event for people of all ages and fitness levels to walk or run the Surrey Hills and support local communities and people in Surrey. By taking part in the Challenge you will be helping others in our local communities and supporting this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”

Chairman of the Surrey Hills Trust Fund, Neil Maltby comments;

“The Surrey Hills Trust Fund is delighted to have been chosen as one of the beneficiaries for the Surrey Hills Challenge event. Money raised will go into local projects with a focus on conserving the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), from clearing viewpoints and restoring landscape features to enhancing the ecology and biodiversity of the area to educating younger audiences and local communities on the special qualities and importance of the Surrey Hills. Your support of this event will help to safeguard this beautiful area for future generations”.

The event will raise funds for the Community Foundation for Surrey, and the Surrey Hills Trust Fund, established to help local projects and community groups within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Those raising funds by participating in the Surrey Hills Challenge will enable the Trust Fund to help local projects conserving the AONB and support the people who live, work and enjoy the area.

Jim McAllister, Chief Executive, Rutland Management Ltd comments;

“We are delighted to be working with the Community Foundation for Surrey and the Surrey Hills to deliver an event that will not only raise funds for local communities, but highlight and help preserve the beautiful countryside we are so lucky to have on our doorstep. Everyone participating in the Surrey Hills Challenge will not only take away memories of a challenge they’ll never forget but leave a lasting legacy through their fundraising.”

The Surrey Hills Challenge will take place on Sunday 25th September 2016. Registration fees per person for ‘The Ultra’ (60km) is £80, ‘The Half’(21km) £35, ‘The Ten’ (10km) £25 and ‘The Five’ (5km) £15. A booking fee of £2 per registration is applicable. The event is open to everyone. Participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult or guardian.