About the Upbeats Walk:
This event is truly remarkable in its purpose - to raise funds for children and adults who have Down's Syndrome, providing them with a safe and inclusive environment to engage in various activities. These activities range from playing football to socialising with peers and even participating in competitions.
Every year, participants are invited to participate in a 9-mile walk from Charlton Athletic FC’s training facility to The Valley stadium. The walk itself is an incredible experience where everyone unifies and perseveres through various route throughout the local community. Once everyone completes the walk, they are invited to watch the Charlton Upbeats play against another team – at this year’s event, the Upbeats played against Everton.
This annual event is a great opportunity to witness the spirit and passion of the Upbeats team and connect with other like-minded individuals who share a love for football and community involvement.
ITRM's experience at the Upbeats Walk:
The day began with a registration process at Charlton Athletic FC training ground, where each participant was warmly welcomed. The participants were offered a breakfast spread of pastries, complete with warm beverages. Charlton TV's Scott Minto then took the stage and delivered a powerful speech emphasising the significance of the Upbeats Walk, expressing his gratitude to all attendees. During the speech, Dave White (ITRM’s Founder and Managing Director) was pleasantly surprised with a framed CACT x ITRM shirt to commemorate the occasion.
After completing the necessary formalities, we were divided into different walking groups, each with their own designated walking leaders. Team ITRM took the lead, paving the way for the rest to follow on the 9-mile journey to Charlton's iconic home ground, 'The Valley'. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and enthusiasm as we began our trek. The team's spirits were high, and it wasn't long before we reached the halfway point. We made a pit stop at Charlton Lido, a sports centre featuring a magnificent 50-meter outdoor swimming pool. The 15-minute break was a welcome respite for the team, and everyone used the opportunity to replenish their energy levels by indulging in some sweet treats before embarking on the last 5 miles of the journey.
After completing our stop-off, team ITRM resumed the journey, leading the way forward through numerous roads in Woolwich. We walked for almost 2 hours and 45 minutes before finally catching a glimpse of the notorious 'Valley'. As the team drew closer to the stadium, we were welcomed by cheerful Upbeats players who directed us onto the pitch where the finish line awaited us on the horizon. The team was filled with excitement and energy, everyone was encouraged to run the last couple of meters and celebrate their accomplishment. The entire atmosphere was compelling as everyone basked in the glory of their successful journey.
Upon finishing their walk, the members of ITRM were treated to a well-earned meal while enjoying a scenic view of the Upbeats game. It was a thrilling match, with Charlton emerging victorious over their opponents, Everton. The team were even offered tickets to watch CAFC battle it out versus Shrewsbury Town later in the afternoon, which many took advantage of.
The outcome:
ITRM was heavily invested this year in getting as many members of the team and their families as possible to participate in the annual event. After months of anticipation, April 20th finally arrived, and we are thrilled to announce that team ITRM had a personal best of 31 members in attendance! This is the most team members ITRM has had attend, and we are grateful for everyone who joined us. Furthermore, we are proud to report that CACT broke records, raising over £55,000, which is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the generosity of everyone who participated. We would like to express our gratitude to CACT’s wonderful team for organisation another incredible fundraising event, team ITRM is already looking forward to next year's event with great excitement and anticipation.
To discover more about the remarkable efforts of CACT in providing support to the local community with events such as the Upbeats Walk, click the link here.
For more information on ITRM’s service offerings for charitable organisations, click here.