Despite the cancellation of this year’s Manx Telecom Parish Walk, the event has still managed to raise a significant amount of money for the Manx Harriers Young Athletes’ Travel Fund.

The 2020 walk, which had been scheduled to take place on June 20, is unable to go ahead because of the precautions surrounding the coronavirus crisis.

But many entrants who had signed up prior to the cancellation have donated their registration fees to the fund, providing £4,000 to help young athletes compete off-island in the future.

Entrants were given three options when the walk was cancelled.

These included a refund of their entry fee, a transfer to the 2021 event or donating their fee to the Young Athletes’ Travel Fund.

More than half of entrants chose to transfer their entry to 2021, meaning that next year’s event already has 540 people signed up.

The Manx Telecom Parish Walk is the island’s biggest mass participation sporting event, regularly attracting more than 1,500 entrants ranging from elite athletes to charity walkers and members of the general public.

Parish Walk race director Ray Cox said: ’While we were all disappointed that this year’s event had to be cancelled, in line with government guidance on keeping people safe, we are delighted that we already have 540 entries for next year.

’We are also very happy that so many of the entrants have chosen to let their entry go into the Manx Harriers Young Athletes’ Travel Fund.

’The fund helps young people to meet the significant travel costs they incur when competing or training off-island, allowing them to test themselves against their peers and gain valuable competition experience.’

NEXT YEAR’S EVENT

The 2021 Manx Telecom Parish Walk, which is set to take place on Saturday, June 19, will re-open for further entries from December 1, 2020.

Anyone who has transferred their 2020 entry and needs to make a change in the information already submitted should contact the race secretary at [email protected]