This year’s Friends Provident International Harbour2Harbour Sponsored Walk has been hailed a great success after over 300 participated in the event on Sunday, which raises much needed funds for Southern Community Initiatives.

Despite the damp and windy conditions, participants including MHKs Laurence Skelly (Rushen) and Richard Ronan (Castletown) left Port Erin at 10am. Organisers were also delighted to see lots of younger walkers attempting the nine mile course along the coast to Castletown, including one boy of five.

General Manager of event sponsor, Friends Provident International, Caroline Cornish said: ‘Last year was a great event and we were delighted to hear the number of entries had doubled this year. We’re also very proud that almost 30% of our workforce took part, with two of the FPI team even walking back home to Port Erin afterwards. The general feedback was that it was well organised and great fun – hopefully this event will go from strength to strength.’

After arriving at the finish area, walkers and their support teams then enjoyed a celebration of the event and Manx culture, with Manx music and dance from Bree and Perree Bain and performances from Castletown Metropolitan Silver Band.

Local restaurants also got involved, with The Bay in Port Erin offering a discount of breakfast and The George in Castletown offering 10% off and a providing a prize for a photo competition.

Organiser Janet Bridle said: ‘Thank you so much to everyone who walked or volunteered at the Harbour2Harbour this year. We’re also grateful to Friends Provident International for its continued support. All money raised will go to three very important charities in the south of the Island – Southern Community Initiatives, SPort Erin and Southern Befrienders – which are accessed by a wide cross-section of our community.’

To view pictures from this year’s event go to the event’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/harbour2harbour

Photo Credit- Janet Lees