Brighton charity walk set to raise thousands for LGBT community
The Stonewall Equality Walk in Brighton is just over a week away.
This years event promises to be bigger then ever and organisers are hoping people will step up their fundraising in the final week to raise as much money as possible for Stonewall.
Last year the Walk peoples generous donations helped the charity raise over £40,000. This year organisers hope to beat that.
The money will support Stonewall’s ongoing work, including their campaign for new legislation – the introduction of the offence of incitement to hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation.
Ben Summerskill of last years event:
“We’re enormously grateful to all those who took part and helped raise this incredible sum.
“This will enable us to do even more to help improve the lives of lesbians, gay men and bisexual people across Britain.”
Gay men, lesbians and their families and friends are being urged to register and help raise money for the charity’s hate-crime campaign.
The 10km walk, sponsored by American Express, will begin at the Pavilion Gardens at 2pm and will be joined by Sue Perkins, Amy Lamé and Gaydar Radio’s Dicky and Dolly.
Several hundred people are expected to join the walk, but Stonewall is keen to encourage more people to sign up and help raise money.
Stonewall’s Events Manager Michaela Greene said:
“We’re delighted to have so many people joining us, we would like to encourage as many as we can to come,
“We’ve got some great prizes to give away and since we’re raising invaluable funds for our hate-crimes campaign we need as many friends and supporters as we can to help us tackle this increasing problem,
“The registration fee covers the event’s costs, but all money raised goes towards our campaigning work, which is certain to make a big difference to many people’s lives,”
Stonewall is currently working with the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure that the perpetrators of hate-crimes are brought to justice.
The charity is also working with the police to encourage gay people to feel more confident about reporting hate-crimes.
Supporting the event will be Big Brother housemates and Gaydar radio presenters Dick and Doll:
“We feel it is both a privilege and a duty to be attending this year’s equality walk,
“We often receive touching messages from young gay men and women asking for advice as they are being bullied because of their sexuality.
“These messages often have us in floods of tears as we both know first hand what it’s like to be bullied because of our sexuality or how we look.
“We are really looking forward to meeting everyone on the 4th please make sure your friends give generously when sponsoring you so Stonewall can continue fighting for our equality”
If you would like to take part then visit www.equalitywalk.org.uk
