“Walk the District” is a new initiative introduced this year and involved 50 walkers from Rochdale, Todmorden and Bacup Masonic Lodges together with family and friends who walked a 23 mile circular route around Rochdale District. The Mayor of Rochdale Councillor Mohammed Zaman gave his support and was present at Rochdale Masonic Hall to wave off the walkers at 7.30am on Saturday 18th May.
Age was not a barrier and walkers’ ages ranged from 7 to 70.  Even District Chairman Doug Smith, who is no spring chicken, followed a route through Whitworth, Bacup, Todmorden, Littleborough and then back to Rochdale.   As he completed the course he was asked for a comment but was too tired to speak!
The main objective of the walk was to raise money for local charities and event organiser Councillor John Taylor was delighted to announce that he expects to have raised over £1,000 in donations.  A secondary but equally important objective was to raise local awareness of Freemasonry in general and to highlight some of the charitable work undertaken by the fraternity.