A walkers’ group has an extra spring in its step after collecting a cheque for £500.
And the Wednesday Walkers happily put best feet forward to Oldham to receive its allocation from the Skipton Building Society’s ‘Grassroots Giving’ scheme.
Ida Ashworth from Royton, who founded the Walkers 33 years ago, was one of those to attend the presentation.
From humble beginnings, the group now boast 250 members coming from across Oldham, Tameside, Rochdale and West Yorkshire.
Maureen Lindsay from Littleborough is chairlady and says most of the Grassroots Giving money will be used to help support the British Heart Foundation’s Heartstart training scheme.
Heartstart courses teach life-saving skills in schools and in the community including defibrillator training, recognising a heart attack or cardiac arrest and learning how to administer CPR.
“A local walker collapsed and the ambulance crew said they might have died had it not been for one of the group having knowledge of Heartstart,” explained Maureen.
“We are older people so we want to organise Heartstart training within the group.
“Additionally, we will spend some of this award money to help with clearing of overgrown footpaths which will be for the benefit of all the community,” added Maureen.
“But we need to buy strimmers and sequeteurs and to make sure everyone has the necessary health and safety certificates!”
The Wednesday Walkers and Rochdale Choir, who also received a donation at the same presentation, were two of 164 organisations nationwide to benefit from a total fund of £82,000 from the Skipton Building Society’s scheme.
For more information about the Group visit their website: www.wednesdaywalkers.org or email Maureen at: chair@wednesdaywalkers.org