Oldham residents invited to sign up to the region’s biggest-ever sponsored walk

The Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity has teamed up with the GM Ringway, Greater Manchester’s walking trail, to organise the city-region’s biggest-ever sponsored walk.

The event, ‘Circle Home’, will include a weekend of walking to raise much-needed funds to help support people experiencing homelessness in Greater Manchester.

The Circle Home weekend of sponsored walks will take place from Friday 8 to Monday, September 11, 2023.

Individuals and groups from Oldham are invited to take part by signing up to do a sponsored walk along one or more of the GM Ringway’s 20 stages and pledge a minimum of £1 per mile.

Designed around existing footpaths, parks and open-access land, the GM Ringway is green in every way, as it’s designed to be accessed by public transport.

The route, which explores all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester, is 186 miles (300 km) long and takes in a wide variety of landscapes as well as heritage attractions such as stately homes, museums and ancient monuments.

What’s more, there are plenty of pubs, cafes and restaurants along the route.

Across the weekend, the GM Ringway team will offer a series of five Circle Home guided sponsored walks suitable for all ages and fitness levels, providing a fantastic opportunity for friends, families and colleagues to come together in support of this important cause, while enjoying the nature and heritage on their doorstep.

While free to reserve a spot, participants will be expected to fundraise for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity.

Launch walk (September 8)

Strines to Marple (September 9)

Accessible Walk - Salford Quays (September 9)

Wigan to Leigh (September 10)

Accessible Walk - Greenfield and Uppermill (September 10)

In addition, individuals and groups will also be able to raise funds by walking the trail independently using the free-of-charge Go Jauntly walking and wellbeing app.

By the time of the Circle Home weekend, all 20 stages of the GM Ringway – and some shorter and accessible walks based on the trail – will be available on the app.

The Betfred Super League rugby league team, Salford Red Devils, has helped kick-off the Circle Home fundraising campaign by becoming a champion partner and dedicating their home game against Warrington Wolves on Friday, September 8 to the cause.

One of the Circle Home guided walks will end at the Salford Stadium, with the opportunity for walkers to watch the game and feel part of a united effort to tackle homelessness.

Talking about the partnership, Andrew Read, GM Ringway’s Project Lead, said: “Together, GM Ringway and the Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity look forward to fostering a sense of community spirit and addressing homelessness head-on through the Circle Home fundraising event.

"By taking part, the people of Oldham can make a lasting impact and create positive change for those most in need.

"Homelessness is an issue that affects our community deeply, and by encouraging local people to lace up their walking boots and sign up for a sponsored walk, we hope to play our part in ending homelessness in our region.

"Every step counts.”

Fran Darlington Pollock, CEO of Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, said: “We’re looking forward to seeing the Oldham community coming out in droves to support this event.

"Nobody in our city region should be without a safe, secure place to call home.

"Yet there are many for whom this is out of reach. It isn’t right. Not anywhere, certainly not here.

"With your help, we can show the world that homelessness has no place in Greater Manchester. 

"Circle Home brings together many organisations across Greater Manchester, and connects with the people and places of our city region in such a powerful way.

"We’re excited to bring the people of Greater Manchester an event to return to year-on-year, raising funds to end homelessness while connecting with the wonderful place that we call home.”

A list of each of the 20 stages, alongside shorter and more inclusive step-free walks, can be found on the GM Ringway website.

Each stage starts and finishes at a public transport stop – in most cases a train station or tram stop – and so it’s easy to tackle two or three over the weekend.

With every mile covered, the pounds raised will change lives.

Would-be walkers are encouraging to find out more, sign up and start fundraising by visiting: https://www.tinyurl.com/circle-home

For more information and news on the GM Ringway, including route maps, visit GMRingway.org

The Go Jauntly app can be downloaded here

To search for GM Ringway walks just put ‘GM Ringway’ into the ‘By Walk Names’ search box.

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