The 'Long March' takes its name from a Christian Aid film called 'The Long March'.

The first Long March took place in 1966 (the year England won the world cup), and sponsors were asked to promise 1d per mile, thus making 2/6d if the full 30 miles were covered. 1500 people took part, raising a total of £5400.

Throughout the remainder of the 1960's the Long March proved to be an extremely popular event:

In 1971, a postal strike caused concerns that the Long March may have to be cancelled, but fears were allayed as letters and handbooks were delivered through schools.

The weather was a cause for concern in 1972. Torrential rain a few hours before the Long March was due to start, put everyone on standby for cancelling the event. This never happened however, and 700 people raised £2000.

Interest in the Long March was beginning to decline. In 1973, only 560 people registered. Of those, only 462 started the walk. One of the walkers was Mr Arthur Horsfall,who was the oldest participant at the tender age of 65.

1974 saw the Halifax Long March achieve national acclaim as the best organised event of its kind in the country. Despite over 8500 people having walked a combined total of more than 25500 miles, there had not been a single accident.

Many teenagers now saw the Long March as a 'coming of age' event. As a result, there was a slight increase in the number of young people taking part. At the same time, there was a decline in the number of volunteer helpers. The committee decided to call on the power of advertising, and placed articles in the Evening Courier appealing for volunteers.

The following year (1975) saw a change of venue for the Long March. Instead of starting at the Odeon Cinema, the event was now to start at Carlton United Reform Church. The smaller venue meant the number of walkers had to be limited to 800.

The Long March had now been running for 10 years with around 10000 people raising a staggering £42000 for Christian Aid.

Unfortunately, the next ten years did not begin so optimistically. Only 350 people took part in 1976, and in 1977, the deadline for applications had to be extended as only 300 people had registered. This eventually became 750 and a total of £6500 was raised over this two year period.

1979 saw a great change in the Long March. Previously a 30 mile walk, it was now reduced to a 26 mile walk with a 10 hour time limit. The reason is unclear, however, it may have been a result of a decline in both helpers and walkers. The starting point also moved to the YMCA, its present home.

Over the next four years, a total of £24250 was raised. Mr Ken Pickles (later to become Long March treasurer and then chairman ) raised £120 from 143 sponsors.

The 21st Birthday of the Halifax Long March (1986) was the most unpleasant yet. Not only was there a shortage of marshals, but the weather also put up a challenge for the walkers. Mother nature saw fit to throw snow and sleet at the participants, especially over the Northowram section of the walk. Despite this, the event raised £8500.

In 1987 Mr David Fox, Mayor of Calderdale, became the second Mayor to take part in the Long March, the other being Mrs M. Armitage. This was also the year that Mr Arthur Horsfall, now a respectable 79 years of age, decided to hang up his boots.

Mr Arthur Brearley, 75 years old, decided not to take part in future events in 1988.

Mr Horsfall came out of retirement the following year, to help with the time clocks for the 24th Long March in 1989. He also suggested that he may walk in the next event.

1995 was the 30th Long March. The walk reverted to its original 30 miles for the occasion and raised £11000. Some of the people who walked in the first event, also took part in the 30th.

Concerns of cancellation again surrounded the Long March in 2001, when the foot and mouth crisis threatened the Calderdale area. Fortunately, the Long March, by carefully sticking to the roads, managed to avoid the danger, and took place as scheduled.

The 2002 Long March took place on the 31st of March and 1st of April 2002. This was the first year of the Halifax Long March website, which proved to be quite a success, with one walker using the site to obtain and post an application form while on holiday.

A total of 173 walked, supported by a team of 100 helpers, and raised £9000. The oldest walker was Mr Leonard Crabtree who was a spritley 81 years of age. Mr Nigel Burns had the most sponsors with 98.

Throughout its history the Long March has started from the Odeon Cinema, Carlton United Reformed Church, and the YMCA. There was also a three year period where registered walkers were taken out of town to start the walk.

The event has always ended at the YMCA, and currently takes a circular route around Calderdale, both starting and finishing at the YMCA

Even though the route changes every year, it always includes some steep hills. This makes it difficult for disabled people to take part. However, there was one year when a young man with an artificial leg not only took part, but completed the full 26 mile route. Although wheelchair access is not available at some rest centres, there have also been a few people in wheelchairs who have taken part in the event.

Now in its 40th year, the Long March has taken place every year since 1966, and so far raised £245,000 for Christian Aid.