Have you signed up for Mountbatten Isle of Wight’s biggest Schools Walk the Wight party yet, on Sunday 10th May 2026?
Twenty years and counting
This year, the Schools Walk the Wight sponsored by Rouse Financial Planning, reaches a very special milestone, as it officially turns twenty years old.
To celebrate, Mountbatten Isle of Wight invites students, parents and teachers to sign up today and join the fun.
How the Schools Walk works
The Schools Walk encourages children to get active with their families and friends. Whether it’s football practice, a weekend bike ride or a kitchen disco, completed in the lead-up to the big day, every 30 minutes of activity counts as one Walk the Wight mile.
What to expect on the day
On Sunday 10th May, the final part of the Schools Walk starts in Freshwater Bay, where you will find face-painting, energising warm up sessions and a DJ to get you in the right mood.
Then we’re off – covering four-miles over Tennyson Downs, before dropping down to the Alum Bay finish line to collect a commemorative birthday medal.
Mountbatten Isle of Wight’s Olivia Lewis-Marlton, who has been visiting primary school assemblies ahead of Walk the Wight 2026, said,
“It is always a real honour to see families arriving and getting excited about taking on their challenge”
Schools compete for top fundraiser
Schools compete to be top fundraiser. Last year, Carisbrooke Primary School took the title by raising just under £3,436.
Olivia added,
“On the day, it is always a real honour to see families arriving and getting excited about taking on their four-mile challenge. The sun shines and the atmosphere is electric, and this year feels even more special as we celebrate how far Schools Walk the Wight has come over the last two decades, always supporting the vital care Mountbatten provides to Island families.”
The DJs bringing the party atmosphere
Bringing the party vibes to the Schools Walk start line are Josh and Andy, from Hush Silent Disco Production Company, whose high-energy DJ sets have become a staple of the pre-walk warm-up.
Josh and Andy said,
“We absolutely love DJing at Freshwater’s start line, and helping cheer walkers on as they reach the final stretch.
“Mountbatten is a charity very close to our hearts, so it’s always a pleasure to be involved.”
Where the idea came from
Schools Walk the Wight has been running since 2006 and was the brainchild of Louise Gray and Helen Stitchbury, from the Isle of Wight Council’s Healthy Schools Initiative. Their mission was simple: get children moving. It also led to the creation of Walk the Wight Your Way, which is a totally accessible way to cover 26 miles are your own pace.
2025’s Schools Walk the Wight was record-breaking, raising an incredible £48,000.
This year, with the support of sponsor Rouse Financial Planning, we hope to see even more families joining the fun.
All the ways to take part
Walk the Wight 2026 returns on Sunday, 10th May. It also offers an accessible eight miles (from Sandown to Shide), two halves (each around 13 miles long, starting or finishing at Carisbrooke), and the Main Walk over 26.5 miles, from Bembridge to Alum Bay.
Whichever route you choose, sign up via the website.
Olivia said,
“I can’t wait to see everyone again, on Sunday, 10th May.”
Why your steps matter
Vital funds raised by Walk the Wight supports compassionate and expert 24/7 care in homes across the Island, on Mountbatten Isle of Wight’s inpatient unit and through the John Cheverton Centre community space in Newport.
A huge 85 per cent of Mountbatten’s work is within the Island’s community, and Mountbatten Isle of Wight supports people through 70 per cent of deaths on the Island.
News shared by Lucy on behalf of Mountbatten. Ed
