Coast Along for WaterAid 2005

The first Coast Along For WaterAid took place on Saturday 17th September 2005.

Kate Watson walked from Combe Martin to Lee Bay:

"Coast Along was a fantastic day, beautiful weather, amazing scenery, lots of laughs, and not one blister! The walk was very rewarding, especially the traditional cider at the end. A perfect way to spend a weekend."

We couldn't have done it without you! Through your sponsorship and participation in Coast Along 2005 you helped to raise over £50,000 towards WaterAid’s work in Tanzania.

These funds have enabled WaterAid to help provide some 3,500 people with access to safe water and adequate sanitation – for life!

A total of 130 teams of people took part in this epic attempt to walk the entire length of the South West Coastal Path in one day. The path was split into 70 sections of which 62 had one or more teams participating and raising much needed funds for WaterAid's work.

22 companies very kindly sponsored path sections, helping to raise over £5000 for the event.

Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw joined walkers on what thankfully turned out to be a glorious September day. Some team members were not happy just walking with one team and ran their section instead.

South West Water CEO Bob Baty and Ben Bradshaw, Environment Minister and MP for Exeter, lead the way in South Devon. The WaterAid tap is Chris Foley of Yarra Valley Water, all the way from Australia! Picture credit: Apex/Guy Newman

The GreenAcre Pumps team carried a full pot of water the length of their chosen stretch of path to help highlight the plight of the millions of people who have no choice to but to suffer a similar daily ordeal to fetch clean drinking water.

Participants such as Chris Foley, from Yarra Valley Water came from as far a field as Melbourne, Australia, but most walkers had come from closer to home. There were people from England, Ireland (both Northern Ireland and the Republic), Scotland and Wales. The longest walk that we know a team undertook was from Looe to Plymouth, 23 miles.

>> Join the Challenge and register for the event today