Monday, 29 August 2016 09:03

The Long Walk: Join Gran Canaria's Big Charity Walk

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Want to walk across Gran Canaria with a fun bunch of people, stay in hotels along the way, and raise money for a great cause? The Gran Canaria Long Walk is for you.

Started in 2012 by Gran Canaria’s local English-language newspaper The Canary News to support the local breast cancer association (ACCMyG), it has now grown into the island's largest foreign resident charity event. It has raised over €75,000 for charity to date thanks to support from volunteers and Gran Canaria's TUI Resort Team, egged on by manager Paul Gilliam and Canary News Editor Eddie Timon. 

The Long Walk is a challenging but fun walk across Gran Canaria. It takes four days but you don't have to do the whole walk to take part. Some people join for a day, do one night, or just join in the triumphant but knackered last few kilometres down to the Maspalomas dunes, or the Last Mile along the beachfront. Even if you can't walk, please come to the Dunas Mirador for the group photo.

I love this, how do I get involved?

Buy a t-shirt, make a donation, sponsor a walker, take part in the TUI grand prize draw for the chance to win a cruise or one of many stays in hotels in Gran Canaria. SIGN UP to walk,help or support here.

The long walk is supported by TUI, Afrikat, Blue Explorers Dive Centre, 45photos, Ary Traduciones Translations, Music Hall Tavern, Spirit of The Sea, Panda Papeleria, Gran Canaria Natural & Active and members of the Gran Canaria Walking Festival (Nov 2nd – 6th).

The 2016 program

Day 1 28.09

Up, up and away
“The Long Walkers” meet at Punta Arucas on the north coast.
Walk to the Parroquia de San Juan Bautista in Arucas and on up to the Basílica Nuestra Señora del Pino in Teror, from where we climb to the Parador de Cruz de Tejeda.

Day 2 29.09

Over The Top / A Walk in The Clouds
To Pico de Las Nieves, before noon then down to Cruz Grande, the backs of Maspalomas & the hilltop neighbourhood Lomo Pedro Afonso.

Day 3 30.09

The Long Walk to Maspalomas
100 or more tour reps and other volunteers join The Long Walkers for the last 20km all the way down to Maspalomas, where we will arrive at the RIU Palace Maspalomas at around 7.00pm
The Big Picture: A group image of solidarity from the Mirador de Las Dunas de Maspalomas
The Last Mile: A solidarity walk to Playa del Inglés along the Paseo de Costa Canaria & the TUI Grand Prize Draw at Shorty’s Beach Bar , Playa del Inglés

The Long Walk Mission

Get people talking about Breast Cancer and Prostate cancer.
Show that together we can cross mountains, one step at a time.
Showcase the natural beauty of Gran Canaria.
To raise thousands of Euros for worthy causes, while encouraging people of all ages to challenge themselves while walking across one of the most beautiful sub-tropical islands in the world.
Change Lives for the better.

The Canarian Breast Cancer Association

ACCM’s role is pivotal as a complimentary service to medical treatment. They deal with educating huge amounts of people with messages about prevention and early detection, but spend their very limited resources on trying to ensure the psychological and sociological needs of both patients and those closest to them are met with love, support and understanding. They work to ensure comprehension, acceptance of and recovery from cancer are approached with the positive can-do attitude so necessary to help healing both physically and mentally.

ACCM are the only organisation of their type in the Canary Islands whose philosophy is comparable in many ways with the UKs much, much better funded Macmillan trust. They really need our help to continue to grow their offering.

ACCM provides support to sufferers and their families as well as lectures in schools to help bring the issue to young people while at the same time promoting volunteerism, which is such an important resource for the Association. They also offer bio-psycho-social care to patients and their families, warning about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and the importance of an annual mammogram.

The ACCM works to prevent social exclusion of women diagnosed with breast disease and cancer survivors because sometimes they find their medical condition can lead to unpleasant situations in their daily lives.

We are walking over a mountain to support Breast Cancer sufferers. We want you to sponsor us, donate or participate, and we want you to join us for The Last Mile.

Media

Read 11422 times Last modified on Tuesday, 13 September 2016 10:32
Published in News
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Tip of the day

  • Exchange Money In Gran Canaria Or At Home?
    Exchange Money In Gran Canaria Or At Home?

    Visitors to Gran Canaria often ask whether it is better to exchange their local currency for euros at home or in Gran Canaria. 

    The answer is that it is almost always better to buy your euros at home than it is to bring pounds to Gran Canaria and use local banks or currency exchanges. This rule of thumb applies all over the world. A currency is almost always cheaper the further away you are from the place you can spend it (because demand for it is lower). 

    Exchange rates are almost always better at home than in Gran Canaria

    You are very likely to get a better exchange rate using a British currency exchange specialist or local bank. Many of these companies will deliver your euros to your home.

    One of the best rates in the UK is often from the post office, especially if you do it well in advance.

    The only way you'll get a better rate in Gran Canaria than at home is if the exchange rate changes while you are travelling and this is rare. 

    You also have to bear in mind that currency exchanges in Gran Canaria are getting rarer and some local banks don't exchange money for non-clients. 

    To Transfer large amouynts of money to Gran Canaria, or to make regular transfers, always use a reputable currency broker such as Currencies Direct. This will save you money on exchange rates and bank charges and is highky secure. 

    The risk of bringing cash to Gran Canaria

    Another important factor to consider is the risk of bringing cash to Gran Canaria: If it is lost or stolen, there is no way of getting it back. 

    It is much safer to bring a debit or credit card and use local bank ATMs to take out money. These days, a good option is a pre-charged debit card. 

    Cards may be slightly more expensive that carrying cash, unless you seek out a bank card with low commissions, but it is much more secure. 

    Bank ATMs like Bankia, Santander and BBVA often charge lower rates than the ATMs in shopping centres and busy tourist areas.

    Alex Says: Always select the Euro option at ATMs in Gran Canaria because the exchange rate is much better than if you opt for the Local Currency option. The same applies when you pay by card in shops and restaurants.

    See our Gran Canaria Tips section for more nuggets of useful local information.

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