Carer Support South Lakes

CHARITY HIKE SUCCESS Vital Funds Raised by Lake District Walking Challenge

Above: The K2K hikers celebrate completing the walk at Carer Support South Lakes HQ in Kendal

Retired teacher Stuart Graves and his fellow charity walkers have thanked generous members of the public for helping raise a huge amount for Carer Support South Lakes.

70-year-old Stuart and ten other hikers completed their gruelling Keswick to Kendal (K2K) hike at the weekend to raise funds for the South Lakes charity which supports unpaid Carers who look after loved ones.

So far, they’ve raised a total of £2,211.25 and hope more donations will continue to flow in via their JustGiving Page

Stuart walked the full thirty miles while the other walkers did four to eight mile stretches in relay. “It was tough, and we faced strong winds, but we had put in a lot of training so knew we would make it,” says Stuart, a retired special educational needs teacher.

“We had some tough stretches over the thirty-mile route but the funds we have raised make it all worthwhile. I would like to thank everyone who has donated and supported our cause.”

Stuart, from Beetham in South Cumbria adds: “Coming out of Ambleside the word seemed to have spread about the walk. We had lots of cheers and car horns from ambulance crews, buses, cyclists, lots of cars which really spurred us on. Hopefully, donations will keep on coming in over the next few days and we will raise even more.”

The full group came together to finish the walk at the Carer Support South Lakes Hub in Wainwright’s Yard, Kendal.

Debi Marsden, Chief Executive Officer of Carer Support South Lakes, says: “I would just like to say a big thank you to all those people who have made donations. People have been so generous. The funds raised will help us provide additional services to the unpaid Carers we support. I’m very proud of all the walkers have achieved – they have put in a tremendous effort.”

The charity walkers are either members of the Men’s Support Group at the charity or work as volunteers there. Many are also unpaid Carers themselves. The full list of hikers: Stuart Graves, Kevin Archer, Leon Gold, Chris Amos, Don Sillars, Ian Croskell, Paul Skellern, Peter Raven, James Newton, Kathryn Nicholson and Jennifer Ford.

Thanks also go to the transport group provided by the Windermere and Ambleside Lions, with big thanks to Keith, Chris, Peter, Phil, Lisa and Paula and John Mackay who drove the main support vehicle from Keswick all the way to Kendal making sure we were well supplied and doing ok. Thanks also to the Ginger Bakers company which supplied tray bakes.

Stuart adds: “I would also like to say a big thank you to the various individual donors, local Lodges and the Lions club in the area and especially to Lakes Sandwiches for providing lunch bags for our walkers. It was a great team effort and our grateful thanks to everyone who made the day a success.”

Carer Support South Lakes estimates there are more than 12,000 unpaid carers, of all ages, in the South Lakes alone. It provides a wide range of services including one-to-one support to help a carer’s health and wellbeing. They also provide a sitting service, where volunteers step in to allow carers to take a break.