The GM Ringway, Greater Manchester’s walking trail, has teamed up with the charity Forever Manchester to raise vital funds for community projects across the city-region.

Individuals and groups are being encouraged to register their interest in walking part of the 200-mile (323-km) route that connects all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester.

The ‘Summertime Trek’ challenge will kick off on Friday, June 21, the longest day of the year. It will culminate in a final celebration event in Manchester city centre on August bank holiday Monday, August 26, to which everyone who’s taken part in the challenge will be invited.

Designed around existing footpaths, parks and open-access land, the GM Ringway is green in every way, as it’s designed to be accessed by public transport. The route takes in a wide variety of landscapes as well as heritage attractions such as stately homes, museums and ancient monuments. What’s more, there are plenty of pubs, cafes and restaurants along the route.

Individuals and groups will also be able to raise funds by walking the trail independently using the free-of-charge Go Jauntly walking and wellbeing app. The app also includes ten shorter GM Ringway walks – including five step-free ones – that can be walked or ‘wheeled’ to raise funds.

The project team will also run a series of guided walks as part of the challenge, which will be suitable for all ages and fitness levels. These will provide a fantastic opportunity for friends, families and colleagues to come together and support Forever Manchester, raising money for local community projects while enjoying the nature and heritage on their doorstep.

Pictured: Werneth Low

Talking about the collaboration, Andrew Read, GM Ringway’s Project Lead said: “This is the perfect partnership as both the GM Ringway and Forever Manchester are all about improving the lives of everyone who lives in Greater Manchester. Not only will we deliver a great event but we also hope to foster a sense of community. There’s already a real buzz about the GM Ringway and this will get even more people out in the great outdoors exploring more of the region. So get involved! We want everyone taking part to have the best time this summer, as well as improving their health and well-being and making some incredible memories.”

Nick Massey, chief executive of Forever Manchester said: “The GM Ringway has already captured the imagination of local people who are lacing up their walking boots and getting out and about on the trail. We expect to see a lot of our regular supporters sign up to the challenge. This is also a great opportunity for Greater Manchester’s businesses to take part in, whether as a team-building away day, for client hospitality or even as a volunteer day.”

A list of each of the 20 stages, alongside shorter and more inclusive step-free walks, can be found on the GM Ringway website. Each stage starts and finishes at a public transport stop – in most cases a train station or tram stop.

With every mile covered, the pounds raised will help community projects making a difference to local people’s lives. Sign up for a free event pack and start fundraising for Forever Manchester by visiting: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/859367048977?aff=oddtdtcreator. 

The first 25 Summertime Trek fundraisers who sign up will also get a Forever Manchester T-shirt.

Sponsorship money raised for the Summertime Trek challenge can be donated here.

For more information and news on the GM Ringway, including route maps, visit GMRingway.org.