Walkers celebrated the 20th anniversary of their Stockport walking group by bringing traffic on the A6 to a standstill.
Around 100 members of the Walkaday Stockport scheme joined in the walk from Compstall to Stockport town centre to mark the milestone, with motorists stopping to watch as they celebrated on the steps of the town hall on Friday (1 April, 2016).
Walkaday is a programme of volunteer-led walks in and around Stockport and further afield. It was launched in 1996 by Stockport Council to help residents improve their fitness, and has proved so successful that it now has more than 500 members who enjoy a programme of free walks, four days a week, 51 weeks a year.
Programme coordinator and walk leader Kath Edwards said: “For Walkaday to be going strong after 20 years is a tribute to the enthusiasm of the participants and the support of Stockport Council. Recent support from TfGM has enabled printing the programme to continue.
“Walking is a great way to more active, lose weight, get fitter and meet new friends, and we are lucky that we have some beautiful countryside in and around Stockport and the surrounding counties in which to do it in.
“Walkaday offers a varied programme of walks, meaning there’s something for everyone, whatever their fitness levels, which is one of the reasons it has been so successful over the last two decades.
“It was great to be joined for our celebration walk on Friday by Cath Lewis, who participated in the first programme of Walkaday walks back in 1996 and went on to become a walk leader. We even received good wishes for the day from BBC presenter Clare Balding.
“Paul Roberts, who volunteers for Erin Hounds, risked life and limb taking our photograph. Erin Hounds find homes for rescue dogs.”
Walkaday offers walks of three to four miles exploring the byways and footpaths of Stockport and its suburbs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while on Wednesdays and Fridays the group ventures further afield to enjoy walks of six miles or more.
Details can be found in local libraries, Stockport Council website or call 0161 217 6111 .