Popular Rhossili to Mumbles hike returns as DofE Wales Gower Walk Challenge sponsored by Swansea Building Society

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) has teamed up with sponsor Swansea Building Society to announce a fundraising event that will see challengers take on the popular Rhossili to Mumbles Gower hike.

The Gower Walk Challenge will take place on 9th September, and with limited places available, walkers are encouraged to sign up as soon as they can. There will be two distances to choose from – a 10-mile and a 22-mile route – allowing walkers of all abilities to take part. Both distances follow the same popular coastal route previous hikers will know and love, finishing at Mumbles Cricket Ground.

DofE Wales is delighted to announce the event’s headline sponsor: Swansea Building Society. The Society is donating £20,000 to cover the organising costs of the event, as a proportion of the £100,000 fund it is donating to charities this year as part of its centenary celebrations. This £20,000 sponsorship donation will mean that every pound raised at the event will go directly to helping young people from the toughest backgrounds in Wales to build life-long belief in themselves through DofE.

Money raised will enable more marginalised young people across Wales to access a life-changing DofE Award and to help them grow in self-belief, discover new passions, and develop skills – equipping them for life’s challenges.

Swansea Building Society was previously a sponsor of Macmillan’s Gower Hike event for five years, along the same coastal route. The Society, with branch offices in Swansea, Mumbles, Carmarthen and Cowbridge, is currently celebrating a milestone 100 years as a mutual during 2023. As well as supporting the DofE Gower Walk Challenge, the Society’s centenary celebrations will also include multiple initiatives, events and fundraisers to occur throughout the year, all based around the number 100.

Alun Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Swansea Building Society, said:

“It’s great to be able to support DofE Wales as the charity launches its Gower Walk Challenge event on this well-loved route. The event will be a hugely enjoyable challenge, taking in some spectacular coastal scenery within Gower’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. I have completed the route five times myself, and will be participating this year with several friends and colleagues in support of DofE.

“We hope to see as many walkers take part as possible, in order to raise funds to help more young people undertake their DofE Award. DofE Wales is a fantastic organisation giving great opportunities and experiences to young people from all backgrounds across Wales. The life skills these young people learn during the DofE programme are invaluable and will stand them in very good stead throughout their adult life.”

Ian Gwilym, DofE Wales Senior Relationship Manager, added:

“We are delighted to launch the first DofE Wales Gower Walk Challenge with the support of Swansea Building Society. It is a brilliant opportunity to take on a challenge, hike one of the most spectacular coastlines in the UK and support the work of the DofE in Wales. Money raised will enable more marginalised young people in Wales to access a life-changing DofE programme. So, why not get a team together and take on the challenge!”

To find out more information and to sign up for the event, please visit: https://events.dofe.org/event/gower-walk/home