Brighton beach walk raises 40K for Stonewall

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Stonewall’s fourth Equality Walk in Brighton on Sunday raised over £40,000 towards its work for gay equality.

300 supporters assembled at the Brighton Pavilion to raise money for Stonewall’s continuing work.

Stonewall boss Ben Summerskill emphasised the importance of their campaign for new legislation to introduce an offence of incitement to hatred on grounds of sexual orientation.

The 10km sponsored walk was officially started by Councillor David Smith, Mayor of the City of Brighton Hove.

Celebrities Amy Lamé, Coronation Street’s Antony Cotton and Mr Gay UK Mark Carter walked, and the event was sponsored by American Express.

The route took walkers along the seafront and through Brighton’s gay village, and finished with a well-earned drink at an exclusive post-walk party hosted at Legends.

The highest fundraiser, Beverley Milner Simonds, won a fabulous weekend for two in Paris courtesy of American Express.

The highest fundraising team was the British Transport Police who raised over £1,200 and won two crates of Cobra beer.

The prizes were presented by Sharon Pannett, Director of European Risk Operations at American Express.

Antony Cotton said: “I’m thrilled to have the chance to support Stonewall on its Equality Walk. They have achieved so much for gay equality but there remains so much more to do”.

Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill told PinkNews.co.uk: “We’re enormously grateful to all those who took part and helped raise this amazing sum.

“This will enable us to do even more to help improve the lives of lesbian, gay and bisexual people across Britain.”