Marlow Striders has been very successful in raising money for charity and this is largely achieved through our organisation of the Marlow Half Marathon. To date we have supported over twenty local charities and raised a grand total in excess of £70,000. Every year a vote is taken at the club’s Annual General Meeting to determine which two charities will be supported in the coming year. At the same meeting cheques are presented to the two charities selected at the previous AGM.

Wycombe Night Shelter

There is a small but significant number of rough sleepers in and around High Wycombe. The District Council’s estimates are about 8 on any one night (probably an underestimate). There has been a recent influx of people from Eastern Europe who cannot find accommodation even though they may have a job. This is likely to increase.

Homelessness can happen quickly (e.g. a relationship breaks down and someone suddenly has nowhere to go), but getting out of it usually takes much longer and may require support from several agencies. Hostels are often full and finding the next step takes some time, which may mean sleeping rough.

A woman died of hypothermia at Easton Street car park last year!

The project, which is just starting, involves 6 churches in the centre of Wycombe providing accommodation, plus an evening meal and breakfast, every night for the 3 worst winter months. Volunteers and professionals, working together, will offer friendship and support, including advice on how to improve the situation and find long-term accommodation. Agencies such as the Bucks Drug & Alcohol Team and local authorities support the initiative but funds are needed to run this project which will help some of our most vulnerable local people.

Longridge on the Thames

Longridge (just a couple of miles downstream from the Club) is an outdoor centre which provides activities that encourage young people from all walks of life and of all abilities to develop water skills as well as leadership, self-discipline, confidence and respect for themselves and others. It is the only facility of its kind in the SE of England that allows young people to enjoy, in a controlled and safe environment, a variety of watercraft, from gigs to canoes. (It also provides land activities such as climbing.) Over its 50 year history, Longridge has introduced hundreds of thousands of young people to the pleasure of boating. Many of these young people have gone on to become prominent sports people, winning international medals. The Women’s Olympic Rowing Team trains there.

At the end of 2007 the charity purchased the site from the Scout Association, but now has an £800,000 debt. In the long term it plans to raise a further £3.5m to take Longridge into its next 50 years. As well as paying off the debt, the major need is to improve radically current indoor accommodation, changing rooms, bathroom and lecture room facilities. In 2007 there were 28,000 users. With improved facilities this number is likely to double by 2010.

Examples of current sponsorship needs are:

Buoyancy Aids, used by all water users - £2,500; safety boat - £3,000; extend & refurbish the lavatory & changing room block - £40,000; sponsor a 17-year old from the Young Offender Programme to train as an activities instructor - £8,000.

Website: www.friendsoflongridge.co.uk and www.longridge-uk.org

Take a look at our Charity Records to see what we have achieved in previous years