With 1,575 entrants entering the Clerical Medical Parish Walk it is going to take a huge effort from us all to ensure that:

a) the roads remain usable for other people, particularly emergency services;
b) we avoid a serious injury to a competitor;
c) the walkers can walk between the traffic.

I have suggested 10 ways to help (below and on www.parishwalk.com). Please add to my suggestions, comment on the safety issues and start a campaign to ensure the event can be held safely. Do not just leave it to the organisers. We must all share the responsibilty.

Here are my starting 10:

Here are 10 suggestions from me:

1 Experienced full course walkers should not need attendants before Peel. There are plenty of opportunities to take drinks - they manage to train without cars following them throughout.
2 Many other walkers could easily manage without cars to follow them around until at least the Sloc.
3 If you must follow by car, then arrange to share transport with several other walkers of similar ability.
4 Try and limit the number of places you stop and do not stop in the no stopping zones.
5 If you want to watch the event but are not following a particular walker, take the bus to various points around the course. Here are the timetables.
6 During the night, make sure that all supporters have reflective tops and take great care whilst attending to walkers.
7 Warn everyone you know that the event is on so that people unconnected with the walk stay away from the course. Email everyone in your address book the week before.
8 Do not drive without a break and when over tired. (I almost became a casualty by doing this).
9 Walkers as well as car drivers must share the responsibility. Do not walk in the middle of the road and always be alert for other road users.
10 Spend the whole 24 hours thinking about road safety.