LADY Lansdowne this week appealed for Gazette readers to join her on a sponsored walk around the historic Bowood estate to raise much-needed pounds for the Springboard Appeal.

Anyone can take part in the event, and there is the option of raising sponsorship money or donating £5 on the gate.

Lady Lansdowne, patron of Springboard, who runs the estate at Derry Hill, with her husband, said: "It would be wonderful to get a serious amount of walkers involved.

"Every penny counts for Springboard and hopefully this will give the appeal a major boost."

Springboard is the only pre-school for children with special needs in the whole of North Wiltshire, but children's places are under threat unless money can be found to save them.

Earlier this year the Gazette launched an appeal to help Springboard reach its £40,000 target.

With just four weeks until the sponsored walk, final preparations are now being put in place.

The Gazette's very own mascot Gilbert the Gator will be kicking off proceedings at Bowood on June 26.

The two-and-a-quarter mile stroll will take visitors through unseen parts of the estate, including beautiful woods and parkland.

Although the walk will officially start at 10am, people can take part at any time between then and 2pm. The course is expected to take between 40 minutes and an hour to complete.

Springboard pupils who take part will have their certificates presented by three times paralympic gold medallist Ann Dunham, who lives at Broad Hinton near Swindon.

The equestrian heroine was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 28 and has been in a wheelchair ever since.

"It's a wonderful honour to get Ann's support," said Springboard leader Jane Cross. "Her story is inspirational and we were delighted when she agreed to present the certificates.

"June 26 is going to be a very important day for everyone involved with the appeal and I really hope hundreds of people join us. Months of hard work have gone into planning the walk, so the more people that join us the better."