A small army of Specsavers staff have signed up to promote the annual KM Charity Walk.

This year is the 20th anniversary of the big walk and to help encourage the public to join in, staff at Specsavers are to play a leading role.

More than 300 staff at a dozen branches across the county were briefed this week on the detail of the event and every time a customer picks up an order they will be given a printed invitation and asked to take part in the five or 10 mile route of the walk.

This year’s KM Charity Walk takes place on Sunday, June 28 and begins at the Georgian Grade II listed mansion Mote House, at Mote Park, Maidstone. It takes a circular route that includes views of Leeds Castle and the Stoneacre National Trust property. The walk ends with a barbecue and string quartet in the gardens of the mansion house.

Walkers can take part just for fun or for the cause of their choice. Readers not sure which cause to walk for could consider Young Kent or KentOnline's charity of the year Kent Search and Rescue.

Matt Trusty from Specsavers said: “Our staff are very excited at playing a leading role in promoting the KM Charity Walk in its anniversary year.

“The walk has been an important fixture in the fundraising calendar of many charities for two decades and we hope it will be a great success this year.”

Simon Dolby from the KM Charity Team said: "I am absolutely delighted that so many staff at Specsavers are now ambassadors of this charity event."

As well as Specsavers, other organisations supporting the event include Mote House and Cotswold Outdoor Maidstone.

All ages are welcome and children under 16 go free when booking online at www.kmcharitywalk.co.uk

Businesses wanting to support the 20th anniversary KM Charity Walk should contact Simon Dolby at sdolby@thekmgroup.co.uk or call 07989 164 752.

Fact-File

• The 2015 event is the 20thanniversary of the first ever KM Charity Walk, but the 19thactual walk as there was a one-year gap during its history.
• All of the walks combined have raised a grand total of £843,000 for good causes.
• The most successful event was the 2007 walk which raised £83,000 for charity.