Ramblers Cymru pass on the baton to celebrate 75 years at the heart of walking

19/02/2010

Time:10:30am

Date: Saturday 13th March 2010

Place: Roath Park (meeting at Post Office, Waterloo Gardens, Cardiff)

www.ramblers75.org.uk

The Ramblers will be launching their 75th birthday celebrations in Cardiff on March 13th, kicking off a month of Welsh ‘baton walks’.

This year, Britain’s walking charity is 75 years old. To mark the occasion, a special Ramblers birthday baton is travelling around Britain throughout 2010. In March it will reach Wales, where it will travel around the country before being passed on to the England’s North West region.

On Saturday 13 March Cardiff Ramblers will be passing on the baton to new walkers as members of the Minority Ethnic Women’s Network (MEWN) join Ramblers Cymru to celebrate 75 years at the heart of walking. The MEWN members will also be bringing their own special version of the 75th birthday baton – an Indian dancing stick! First time walkers and experienced ramblers alike are invited to join the group on this scenic stroll around Roath Park.

Tom Franklin, CEO of the Ramblers, comments:

“For 75 years, the Ramblers has existed as Britain’s walking charity, to help everyone – no matter who they are or where they’re from – experience the joy of walking.

“Now we’re asking everyone, of all ages and walking levels, to get out, celebrate walking and help us pass on the baton for future generations.”

Helen Lloyd-Jones, Chair of Ramblers Cymru says: “I’m thrilled to see more and more people enjoying walking. As a Charity, we work really hard in Wales to try and keep our footpaths walkable for everybody to use and it is great seeing people using and enjoying them.

“This is an easy walk that takes us by Roath Park Lake which has an interesting history, with an intriguing lighthouse. It’s a great walk for the family and Cardiff Ramblers have a super Family Walks programme”

The walk is timed so ardent Welsh supporters can watch the Wales – Ireland game. Walking with us, will be a great way to start the day. Do come and join us celebrating out 75th anniversary. This walk is free, just come wearing sensible shoes! It starts at the bottom of Waterloo Road by the Post Office, 10:30 am Saturday 13th.

Journalists and photographers are invited to picture Ramblers and members of the Minority Ethnic Women’s Network raising aloft their 75th anniversary batons and Indian dancing sticks at 10:30am Saturday 13th March at 3 Waterloo Gardens, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, CF23 5AA.

For the Ramblers 75th Anniversary website visit www.ramblers75.org.uk

For more information about the baton walk www.ramblers75.org.uk/baton-walks

For more information contact the Ramblers press office 0207 339 8532/ 07801 749 385 press@ramblers.org.uk,

Notes to Editors:

• The Ramblers is at the heart of walking in Wales. Everyone walks, so the Ramblers is for everyone.

• It is Wales’ walking charity. It works to make it easy for everyone to walk, whether in countryside, cities, hills, coasts and on or off the beaten track.

• It is a grass roots network of over 7,000 members and volunteers who work tirelessly for a walking Wales . For 74 years it has helped build and protect Wales 33, 000 mile long path network, it runs over thousands of walks every year, and campaigns for better walking routes and more walking opportunities.

• Walking contributes some £548 million to the Welsh economy each year