After a successful 2009 we are already starting to plan for this year with two new events planned for the summer. Most of our regular events will be happening again so we have a full calendar to look forward to.

Sadly we lost our secretary Sandy Gregory to cancer in October 2009; she was a loyal and hard working member of the group whose skill and humour in the car parks drew many complimentary comments from members of the public plus several offers of a job at Gatwick parking jumbo jets! She will be sadly missed.

• 2009 was a busy year for the group, we covered two night walks on consecutive nights namely the Chichester Moonlight walk for St Wilfred's Hospice then the St Barnabas Night to Remember. On the first walk REAC had a motorcycle marshal covering the walkers on the old Lavant Line stretch; he was able to assist with a walker taken ill and summon the necessary medical help.

• We helped with several other events for local hospices including the Open Day at Chestnut Tree House, plus other events in and around Worthing.

All this has meant that REAC is in a position to donate a total of £4500 to local charities. This will include £1500 which will be given as the Sandy Gregory Award; this will become an annual award in her memory.

Thanks are due to all the members who take part to raise this money and to the Explorer units who support us on large events. With Health and Safety requirements becoming ever stricter a lot of organisers are unable to hold their events (and thus raise much needed funds) without having marshalling groups like us to help them.