Stocksbridge to Spain for charity trek

Stocksbridge to Spain for charity trek

INTREPID fundraiser Dave Critchlow will be putting his best foot forward to take part in an incredible 125km walking challenge from Valenca in Portugal to Santiago de Campostela in Spain.

Dave, from Stocksbridge, will be joined by his best friend Gary Swift on the Camino Portuguese this summer to raise money for the Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity’s Purple Butterfly Appeal.

The pair, both 62, are completing the challenge in memory of Gary’s wife Diane, who sadly passed away at Rotherham Hospital aged 54 in 2015. They expect the gruelling walk to take them at least two weeks to complete with the route crossing beaches and forests, Roman roads, medieval bridges, traditional towns and historic cities.

Dave, a volunteer at the Stocksbridge Steel Valley Project, said: “I think we should all so something to benefit our local community and Gary and I wanted to get healthier and fitter, so a sponsored walk seemed like the perfect fundraising activity. We were also inspired by a TV programme which saw celebrities attempting the Camino Francais.

“We’ve rather cheekily named our Just Giving page ‘two fat old men walking,’ which was exactly how it felt at the beginning. We hope it will grab people’s attention and make them smile. We’ve lost eight stone between us and are really enjoying our training before the challenge officially begins in September.”

The Purple Butterfly Appeal raises money to fund Purple Butterfly rooms at Rotherham Hospital. The £75,000 purpose-built rooms offer privacy and dignity to patients nearing the end of their lives, and their families. The money goes towards funding the building works, specialist equipment and sleeping facilities.

“It was an easy decision to select the Purple Butterfly Appeal,”

Dave added.

“It is especially poignant for Gary as his wife Diane recently passed away at Rotherham Hospital following a stroke.

“I know Stocksbridge people are a caring and charitable bunch, so I really hope they support us to raise as much money as possible for the Charity’s appeal.”

Gary and David are gearing up for the challenge by walking several times a week and are learning Spanish to enable them to travel around the route’s rural areas more easily.

Gary, of Kiveton Park, also said:

“Through all the pain and struggles, Diane never lost hope or her sense of humour. But unfortunately she never recovered. I wanted to do something special to raise money in her memory and I think this challenge fits the bill perfectly. She would have loved to do it herself.”

To sponsor Gary and David please visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/two-fatold-men-walking.

For more information about the Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity please contact Suzanne Rutter on 01709 426821 or via Charity@rothgen.nhs.uk.