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This year’s walk will take place on Sunday 30th June. The walk is just over 5k and will begin at 4am from Vale Castle. Walkers will walk at their own pace along the east coast to the Bathing Pools. We will start the walk just before sunrise, and walk into the rising sun.

SPONSORS: We are incredibly thankful to Gower for their sponsorship of this year’s walk.

DISCLAIMER: All entrants take part at their own risk, Guernsey Mind and all third parties accept no responsibility for personal accidents. Anyone under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

Details for walkers

Arrival

• Please arrive at Vale Castle between 3:40am and 3:50am.
• Please gather inside the castle walls by walking up the short incline.
• It will be dark upon arrival. Please exercise caution while walking up to the Castle.
• Lighting will be provided at the Castle, but we recommend bringing a torch due to uneven surfaces.
• Port-a-loos will be available.

Check-In and Registration

• Upon entering the Castle, Guernsey Mind team members will be there to greet you.
• Pre-registered participants will be directed to the main gathering area.
• On-the-day registration is available at the registration desk (cash and Sum-up machine accepted).

Attire

• We are not providing t-shrits this year. Instead fluorescent tabards will be provided if you wish to wear one. These will be available to collect inside the Castle on Sunday morning.
• Feel free to make a small donation if you decide to keep the tabard. Otherwise, please return it at the end of the walk (a returns box will be near the Samaritans stand).
• If you prefer not to wear a tabard, please wear bright clothing.
• You may wish to attach pictures or messages to your shirt/tabard. A template is here and we will have some available on Sunday morning.
• We are hoping for fine weather and a beautiful sunrise, but please keep an eye on the weather forecast and dress appropriately.

Parking

• Car-sharing is encouraged due to the high attendance.
• Parking is available in the car park opposite the Castle, at Bordeaux, and along Northside. At the Bathing Pools, please use the usual public parking spaces.
• Cycling is also an option.

Walk route

• A safety announcement and introduction will take place at 4am.
• The walk will start immediately after, led by Guernsey Mind team members.
• The route proceeds along the Bridge, Bulwer Avenue, along the front, and ends at the Bathing Pools.
• Marshals and cyclists from Guenrsey Mind will be present along the route for assistance.
• St John will be available for any required assistance; please inform a marshal if needed.

Refreshments

• Please bring your own water; there is a refill station at the Bathing Pools.
• Hot drinks and pastries will be available at the Bathing Pools, with gluten free and vegan options. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the team from Vive La Vallette and the Girl Guides for getting up early on a Sunday morning and providing the refreshments.
• A selection of fruit will also be available. Thank you to the Coop for providing this.
• The café and changing rooms at the Bathing Pools will open from 7am for anyone who may fancy a swim after the walk.

Reflection and Support

• A Book of Reflection will be available at the Bathing Pools for sharing any thoughts.
• Representatives from the Samaritans, Talking Benches, Sunflower Project and Guernsey Mind will be on hand for any support and conversations.

Sponsorship

• Please bring along any raised sponsorship to hand in at the registration table at the beginning of the Walk or at the Samaritans table at the end.
• To save bringing on the day, donations can also be delivered to the Guernsey Mind office during the week (opposite the Fire Station).
• Online donations can be made via our event JustGiving page

Photography

• Ross from Clicksmith will capture drone footage, and an additional photographer will be taking photos at the start and along the route. 
• A photo frame will be available at the end of the Walk – please feel free to take any images and share on social media and tag Guernsey Mind.

Thank you again for supporting this event. The Sunrise Walk of Hope has become an important event in our calendar to raise awareness around suicide, contributing to Guernsey Mind’s ongoing work regarding suicide prevention and support. Together, we can all make a difference.

If you have any queries, please email [email protected]. This email address is monitored until 4.30pm on Friday.