Runners join in Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride 2020

This year the Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride event, organised by Suffolk Historic Churches Trust, welcomed many new participants, keen to put their enthusiasm for cycling and walking to a good cause, after many lockdown weeks.

New to the event this year were also many runners who, having had their usual events cancelled, were keen to get involved.

Bill Hill from Brockley, who works for a charity, usually runs with the Vegan Runners, a national group, and has competed in in ultra-marathons, marathons, half-marathons and 10km races.

“During lockdown I decided to plan my daily run via different churches, as they are so interesting. Most are a real heartbeat of their community. Some are located right in the middle of a village and others, like Lavenham, have a position high on a hill.” he explained. “My parents are members of St Andrews Church in Brockley and I took part in the annual Ride and Stride as a child, but assumed that too would be cancelled because of Covid. When I heard it was to go ahead, I decided to see how many churches I could run to in the eight hours of the event. I studied maps, planned my route, and managed to visit 41 churches, running 45 miles!”

Some of Bill’s sponsors made a donation while others paid per church, but he did warn them of his target of 45 churches, a target he only just missed. With his epic run, Bill raised £750, with half going to Suffolk Historic Churches Trust and half to St Andrews church, Brockley. He plans to take part in Ride and Stride again next year.

“I am going to plan my route carefully and really study the maps so I don’t have to double back at all, then I should be able to beat this year’s tally.” Perhaps I can run 50 miles and visit even more churches!”

Perhaps other runners would like to see if they can equal, or even beat, Bill’s target in 2021…. Ride and Stride is always held on the second Saturday in September.