Bridge the Gap

Thank you for joining us on this specially designed three-mile route where you got a close up view of the City, meandered through the beautifully manicured gardens of seven University Colleges, all whilst raising funds for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and Romsey Mill.

Females laughing together in a garden

2023

Our Bridge the Gap Walk had it all this year – sunshine, beautiful locations and lots of amazing supporters!

The sun shone brightly and provided the perfect backdrop for our walkers to enjoy some of our beloved city’s most famous landmarks.

This year’s route took in six of the University of Cambridge’s Colleges DowningDarwinNewnhamSelwynKing’s and Emmanuel; as well as Ridley Hall Theological College. Both Ridley Hall and Newnham College were featured on the Bridge the Gap route for the first time.

People walking to a large building along a garden path

Thank you 

On behalf of Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and Romsey Mill a big THANK YOU to everyone who registered to take part in the walk and to all those who turned up today – there was a great atmosphere both on the route and on Parker’s Piece largely down to our special community.

Female outside a gate with Kings College in the background

This walk would not be possible without our excellent marshals and volunteers who line the route pointing people in the right direction, including Co-op and Cambridge Building Society staff and, of course, our beautiful Cambridge Colleges who opened up their doors and welcomed our walkers.

Female wearing blue t-shirts under a white branded gazebo

Thank you also goes to our sponsors: The Cambridge Building Society (and its army of walkers), Rotary Club of Cambridge, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, TTP PLC & The Co-op. Not forgetting our media partners, Cambridge Independent (look out for full coverage of the event in the paper) and Cambridge 105 for giving us some fantastic air time.

Females listening to a male wearing a blue tour guide sash

We’d also like to thank the Society of Cambridge Tour Guides for wowing our walkers with local facts and stories about Cambridge, to everyone who baked a cake for our ever so popular Cake Tent and to AristoCaters, VG Coffee (Trumpington, Cambridge), Papas Locas, and Cambridge Park and Rides for their help both before and on the day.

Men and women with Brass instruments playing in a green area

Our amazing entertainment en route included the City of Cambridge Brass Band, Waterbeach Brass Band, and The Blue Clovers.

Your Support

So far over £21,000 has been raised from registrations this year, with more than 1,350 walkers taking part. The total is expected to increase in the coming weeks once all donations and sponsorships have been included.

The two charity partners, Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and Romsey Mill, offer essential support and care to people throughout Cambridgeshire.

Sponsors 

Various coloured logos

Thank you to Sponsors The Cambridge Building Society, which has been headline sponsor for the last 16 years, alongside TTP GroupCambridge University Press and Assessment, and Cambridge City Rotary Club and to the Co-op, Cambridge Independent and Cambridge 105 Radio who were event partners.

Event Partners 

Green logo

The History

Bridge the Gap event has taken place every year since 2001, welcoming more than 40,000 people who have helped to raise over £630,000 for local charities. 

Group of people in a line walking near bridge

You can read more about Bridge the Gap 2023 HERE. 

It's wonderful seeing parts of Cambridge you don't normally see - even as a resident

Bridge the Gap participant

Contact

Email: fundraising@arhc.org.uk

Or call: 01223 675888

FAQs

How long is the route and is it a race?

The route is around three miles, and is definitely not a race!

We invite you to take in the opportunity to visit different college grounds which are not always open to the public. It’ll stay very central to the city, so it’ll be easy to make use of local cafes along the way.

Early bird registrations are £16 per adult and are available to book until 23.59 on 5th July.

Standard registrations from 6th July are £20 per adult and are available to book until 23.59 on 6th September.

You can also register on the day for £22.50 per adult.

Up to three under 16s go free with every registered paying adult, but don’t forget you can book a Treasure Hunt for them to enjoy for just £3 per child.

Due to the nature of the event, we can only welcome assistance dogs.

All the proceeds from the event are split equally between Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and Romsey Mill

We are so grateful for the support of everyone who takes part. Funds are raised through entry fees and generous donations made during registration. All participants have the option to get additional sponsorship to take part in the walk, using the online sponsorship platform Enthuse. If you would like further information or support on this please email the fundraising team fundraising@arhc.org.uk

We’re delighted to have the privilege of accessing seven beautiful and distinctive colleges: Downing, Darwin, Ridley, Newnham, Selwyn, Kings, and Emmanuel.

We are grateful to the Colleges and their teams of Porters for generously granting us access, and for their enthusiastic support of the event.

We’ve worked with these Colleges to create interesting and varied routes through them – please follow the directions of marshals and don’t stray from the route or attempt to enter/exit at points other than those shown on the map.

Please bring proof of your registration, either on a device or printed.

In our ongoing commitment to sustainability, we won’t be offering water bottles this year. Please bring your own (filled) reusable water bottles. 

It’s advisable to be prepared for hot weather (hats and suncream) and rain (raincoats and umbrellas) as we’ll carry on, whatever the weather!

You might like to bring a picnic blanket to enjoy the entertainment on Parker’s Piece more comfortably.

The two charity partners, Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and Romsey Mill, offer essential support and care to people throughout Cambridgeshire.

Are you a UK taxpayer? Your donation can help us to raise even more vital funds for our services, at no extra cost to you. 

Please see more here: arhc.org.uk/donate/gift-aid-form/

If you feel that you are unable to take part in the walk this year but still want to be there to show your support, you can put yourself forward as a volunteer by emailing fundraising@arhc.org.uk.

We need everything from marshals to cake bakers, registration helpers to refreshments servers. If you think you can help us, do reach out – we’d love to have you! 

  • We take responsibility to care for the environment seriously, so we ask you to car share, use the buses or cycle wherever possible to our events.
  • Because of our commitment to the environment, we’re moving away from selling single-use items and ordering things from overseas. We will continue to sell items we already had in stock from previous events.
  • We ask you to bring your own reusable water bottle to our events– we can supply water, but do not have a stock of bottles at the events – but you can buy these from any of our shops.

You can find out more about how environmental sustainability is very important to the Charity, and why the Charity’s five-year strategy is working towards a net zero carbon approach here: arhc.org.uk/about-us/our-organisation/our-green-ways

The first wave will set off at 9:30am, then 10:00am and the final one at 10:30am. You can take your time to look around the Colleges. Each College will close once the last participant passes through and the events on Parkers Piece will close at 2:00pm. 

Clinical Staff at Arthur Rank Hospice holding a Thank you sign

Thank you

Your support helps to continue supporting people in Cambridgeshire living with an advanced serious illness or other life-limiting condition, thank you. 

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