97 mile charity canal walk for East Manchester Community Boat Project

Team members from The Reach at Piccadilly Manchester are embarking on a 97-mile charity walk around the Cheshire Ring Canal loop!

The team are hoping to raise £500 for the East Manchester Community Boat Project (EMCBP). The funds will go towards purchasing a generator for the community boat, Community Spirit 2, allowing it to travel further without stopping to charge and increasing its overall mileage range.

The ambitious walk will cover six different canals across four counties, navigating 92 locks along the entire towpath route. The journey begins at Lock 84 on the Rochdale Canal, adjacent to The Reach at Piccadilly Manchester, which will serve as the starting point for this landmark challenge.

Peter Nye, General Manager of The Reach at Piccadilly Manchester, said: "I am incredibly proud of our team taking on this challenge. Supporting smaller local charities like the East Manchester Community Boat Project is something we hold close to our hearts. Over the years, we have built a strong relationship with Nigel, Sue, and the entire EMCBP team, and this walk is our way of giving back. At the same time, it’s a celebration of the canals and waterways of Great Britain, which have been at the heart of our community for generations."

Nathaniel Farrell, Head of Food and Drink at The Reach at Piccadilly, added: "The team can’t wait for this epic challenge, we have missed the passing canal trade since the Bridgewater burst its banks, the Cheshire Ring has remained closed. Back in 2023, when we first opened Lock 84, we saw 10-20 boats a day come through and enjoyed offering a free drink and a helping hand through the lock. This walk will also give us a chance to assess the work that has been done and support the waterways we care so deeply about."

The walk is a demonstration of The Reach’s commitment to local communities, heritage, and the waterways that connect them. All proceeds will directly benefit the East Manchester Community Boat Project, helping ensure Community Spirit 2 can continue providing educational, recreational, and community services along the region’s canals.

Nigel Anderson, President & Co-Founder at EMCBP said

“My co-founder, Sue Steventon and I have been both humbled and impressed with the fabulous support we have received from the Reach over the past two years. We can only provide our 'free of charge' experience based on additional external support from organisations like the Reach Hotel. We recently had our 50,000 free passenger on board which was celebrated with the visit of Princess Anne, the Princess Royal. I wish the team well with their latest endeavour and look forward to greeting them at the end of this momentous challenge. Thanks yet again to the staff of the Reach.”