Over the weekend, Islanders took part in a charity fundraiser that raised money for a local brain injury charity.
On Friday 6th June, 45 Islanders took part in the ‘Race the Sun’ charity fundraiser organised by Headway Jersey.
The local charity that provides support to Islanders affected by a brain injury, as well as their family and friends, has been running since 1997.
The race saw Islanders hike from the west to the east of the Island, starting at L’Etacq and finishing at St Catherine’s.
A spokesperson from the charity said: “We watched the sunset behind the clouds at 21:10 and hiked the North coast cliff path walking all through the night, with the aim of arriving at St Catherine’s before the sunrise at 05:05.”
Altogether, the participant walked over 32km in under eight hours and raised a total of £5,969.
The charity said: “We ran this event close to the summer solstice to make it a real challenge with only 7 hours 55 minutes to walk the full 32km.”
Although Headway Jersey is associated with the UK charity, they don’t receive any financial support from the national charity.
The charity relies on the fundraising of Islanders as they only get a small grant from the government, which covers only 10% of their annual £400,000 running costs.
The local charity is run by a small team consisting of fewer than 10 staff members, which supports the 150 members currently on their books.
The charity also runs a day centre which is accessed regularly by over 70 members, emphasising that every member on their books has “unique needs.”
A spokesperson from the charity said: “It was great to see so much enthusiasm despite the weather’s best attempts to dampen the mood. The camaraderie, incredible scenery (when you were taller than the hedges), and gnarly hike made this a night to remember.”
Get Involved..
Register your interest for the 2026 Race the Sun here.