What is Moonraker?
2020 saw the cancellation of this well established event, but we are delighted to tell you that this year, 2021, we return!
Join us on October 2nd 2021...
A night time team based orienteering walk organised by the Rotary Club of Taunton Vale with questions along the way. Solve clues and find your way between checkpoints.
Course of around 8 and 16 miles are undertaken. Awards are won based on sponsorship money raised and questions answered. All sponsorship money goes to the nominated and other Rotary Charities.
In 2019 you raised just over £22,000 and the primary charities were Arc which is a local homeless charitable organisation, and St Margaret’s Hospice which has been delivering high quality compassionate care to patients and their families facing a life-limiting illness in Somerset for almost 40 years.
Why Enter?
Because it’s great fun! Most teams come back year after year to try their skill at that year’s route. Teams enter because they really enjoy the challenge of navigating the route and solving clues in the dark, while raising substantial sponsorship for important local charities. Many teams have been doing it for ages and look forward to a new route challenge every year but it’s quite possible for new or inexperienced teams to start early and complete most of the shorter course before it gets too dark if that’s what you want. You have a choice of start times so you can be last out(if you book early enough) or first out(same applies). It’s up to you.
Who Benefits?
In 2021 our two main charities are: Nightstop: a unique project which relies on community hosting to provide a safe, welcoming place for young people in crisis. Volunteer hosts open their homes to people who are facing a night on the streets or sleeping in an unsafe place. The money raised from the Moonraker event will help support the project and those young people who rely on Nightstop to prevent them from rough sleeping.The second of our two main charities is Young Somerset: the largest youth work charity in Somerset and we believe that putting young people first will improve Somerset.
Their aim is to work with young people, encouraging them to take responsibility for themselves and become actively involved in shaping the communities in which they live. Young Somerset works to achieve social, educational and economic outcomes with young people.
Young Somerset seeks to develop a youth work relationship that is open, honest, respectful, trusting and led by the young person.
Other charities such as TOG, Abbeyfield Care Home and Somerset Sight are charities we support regularly along with many others both locally and abroad.
Where, When and How Long?
Every year the route changes. Our expert route planners seek an area vast enough to give several miles of interesting and sufficiently challenging walking while keeping it safe and manageable. This year the walk will commence from The Tap Room at the Quantock Brewery, Broadgauge Business Park, Bishop’s Lydeard.
Our shorter 8 mile course will appeal to all and is suitable for less experienced walkers who’ve not done a night orienteering exercise before and the longer 15/16 mile course is designed to give more of a challenge for the more experienced and adventurous.
An early start time should enable you to complete most of the short course in daylight if you and your team are more comfortable with that. Please book early if that is important to you.
Main Admin and Safety notes
Please see Terms and Conditions and this year you must read Health & Safety through Covid-19 (These are really really important!)
Secure parking at Broadgauge Business Park and West Somerset Railway is available but this year you will be allocated a parking area where you must park with your team. First start 4:30pm, last 8pm. Refreshments at half-way (cost included in the registration fee). Minimum team of four, maximum six. Under 18’s need parental permission, children under 12 by special arrangement – please email to discuss.You need suitable footwear and visibility – Click on the Kit Checklist tab at the top to see what is expected.There is full first aid cover and experienced Search & Rescue teams to keep tabs on your progress. An ambulance is on stand by at the Control Centre throughout the event. All these can be contacted by mobile phone or from any of the many checkpoints along the way.Click here to Enter Online. Thank YouOur sincere thanks to all of you, our sponsors and supporters, without whom this event just couldn’t run.Any Questions?Please email ku.gro.yratorelavnotnuat%40olleh