For the past 12 years, Monmouth Rotary Club, with assistance from nearby Clubs of Chepstow and Ross on Wye, has organised an annual sponsored walk event, raising funds for the breast cancer research team at Velindre, Cardiff.

The 2021 event will take place on Sunday May 16.

Full details and entry forms can be found at www.walkthewye.com.

The event has been reformatted to function under social distancing regulations.

Four walks have been developed with distances of between three and 13 miles.

Each walk will start and finish at Monmouth Show Ground. No bus transport is needed.

Registration time on the day will be divided into five minute slots, with only 12 walkers allocated to register during each slot.

Walkers will be asked to respect social distancing whilst waiting to register, and to start their chosen walk immediately after registering.

They will also be asked to social distance during their walk. Rotarians recording walkers’ details at registration, will wear masks and Perspex visors.

There will be the usual free car parking at Monmouth Show Ground, but unfortunately the provision of food and drink at the Show Ground has had to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 government catering regulations.

The previous walk event, run last September, was very successful with almost 200 walkers taking part and raising the incredible sum of £15,700 for charity.

This was split with 75 per cent going to the breast cancer research team at Velindre and 25 per cent to other charitable causes supported by Rotary.

Rotarian Norman Williams commented: “The Rotary Clubs of Monmouth, Chepstow and Ross on Wye have worked hard to develop a Covid-19 minimum risk event for the 16th May, in order to raise much needed funds for the breast cancer research team at Velindre.

‘‘Over the past 12 years, the event has raised £121,000 for breast cancer research, plus £40,000 for other charitable organisations supported by the Clubs.

‘‘Rotary believes that research into a cure for breast cancer is a very worthy cause to support.

‘‘Every year, thousands of women, and some men, are diagnosed with breast cancer.

‘‘Almost everybody knows somebody who has been affected by breast cancer, either directly or through a relative or friend or work colleague.

‘‘Survival rates are improving but much more research is needed to ultimately defeat it”.

Full details about the event are at www.walkthewye.com