Stockport Girl Guides take on the Manchester Virtual Walk

St Ann’s is not the only organisation celebrating a 50th birthday this year – so too is Girlguiding in the Northwest!

Several Girlguiding leaders from Stockport will mark the joint anniversaries by completing our Manchester Virtual Walk next month.

The 10km event recognising St Ann’s special milestone can be completed wherever, whenever, and however participants like. We are encouraging walkers to take on the challenge over our big birthday weekend from the 14th – 17th May, but it doesn’t matter if you can’t make those dates!

Meanwhile, rainbows, brownies, guides, rangers, leaders, and trefoil guild members are holding various celebration events to mark a half century of Girlguiding regionally.

Its Stockport county has been around for 47 years and is thriving with around 2,000 members and 600 leaders.

Stockport County Commissioner Tracey Johnson said: “We’re still a strong organisation, though numbers have dropped slightly because of changes to meetings since the Covid guidelines have meant we’ve been unable to meet face-to-face for the past year.

“We’ve got very healthy waiting lists across all sections and I’m sure numbers will jump back up once Covid restrictions are eased further.

“Part of our 50th anniversary badge is to collaborate with another charity as old as ours, so St Ann’s was our obvious choice.

“Quite a lot of our members have had family treated there. It’s a charity that perhaps you don’t fully appreciate what it provides until you need to use it.

“The hospice has touched the lives of many Girlguiding members over the years and we’ve also had leaders who’ve spent their final days there.”

Girlguiding Stockport is also sponsoring their own frog on Stockport’s Gigantic Frog Art Trail, organised by Totally Stockport, Stockport’s Business Improvement District that works to support town centre businesses and attract more visitors. Totally Stockport has chosen St Ann’s as its charity to benefit from the proceeds of the trail. Stockport Council are also supporting the main town centre trail with frogs located in Stockport’s district centres.

To sponsor Girlguiding Stockport in the Manchester Virtual Walk visit Girlguiding Stockport NWE 50th birthday challenge walk.