Record-Breaking Walk The Wight Raises More Than £620,000 For Mountbatten

Walk the Wight 2026 has raised a record-breaking £620,454.67 for Mountbatten Isle of Wight, smashing the event's previous fundraising record by more than £60,000.

The final total was announced at a thank you event on Thursday evening following this year's charity walk, which was sponsored by the Isle of Wight Festival and Red Funnel.

More than 9,000 people took part in Walk the Wight on 10 May, choosing from four routes of up to 26 miles across the Island.

Others supported the event by taking part in their own way, including completing sessions at Mountbatten's gym.

The total comfortably surpassed last year's £515,000 and the previous record of £560,000 set in 2024.

Mountbatten Chief Executive Becky McGregor, who completed the full walk from Bembridge to Alum Bay, thanked everyone who took part.

She said the total was "extraordinary" and highlighted the vital role fundraising plays in supporting Islanders facing death, dying and bereavement, with only a small proportion of the hospice's funding coming from the NHS.

Walk the Wight organiser Ashleigh Gibbs praised the thousands of walkers, volunteers, donors and supporters who helped make this year's event another success, saying the achievement belonged to everyone involved.

The Schools Walk also set a new record, contributing more than £54,000 to the overall total.

Gurnard Primary School topped the fundraising leaderboard, raising £4,421.16.

Pre-registration has already opened for Walk the Wight 2027, which will take place on Sunday 9th May.