Wine Trade Sports Club to host charity walk

The Wine Trade Sports Club is hosting a charity walk, in memory of Port expert Ben Campbell-Johnston, on 9 September in aid of The Benevolent and Mind.

Campbell-Johnston died in October 2016 after a 20 year career in the wine trade during which he co-founded and helped drive the success of the now annual ‘The Big Fortified Tasting’ (b.f.t) as well as the event dedicated to sparkling wines, ‘Fizz’. His untimely death last year, due to mental health issues, came as a complete shock to everyone who knew him.

Campbell-Johnston was a keen tennis player and an active member of the Wine Trade Sports Club, ‘often seen charging around the courts of Earlsfield or Dulwich’ in the club’s tennis tournaments. His wife Kate has given the club her blessing to walk in his memory and raise money and awareness for the Benevolent to support the launch of its nationwide Mental Health Awareness Campaign. 20% of the funds raised will also be donated directly to Mind, the mental health charity.

After Campbell-Johnston’s work promoting English sparkling wine, it therefore seems fitting that the walk will take place in English wine country, beginning and ending at the Hattingley Valley wine estate in Hampshire. The walk, following a 9-10 mile route around the Weald of the South Downs, will take place on Saturday 9 September starting at 9am and followed by a barbeque at the finish.

To make a donation, please click here. To register for the walk, please contact Christo Elliott Lockhart on 07950 701049 or clockhart@armitwines.co.uk.