A hospice supporter from Malvern is proving that age is no barrier to fitness by walking 38 miles in a single day for St Richard’s Hospice.
David Hawkins, a Malvern Hills Conservator, is celebrating his 80th birthday next month with a gruelling 38 mile fundraising hike. He has been in training over recent weeks and can frequently be found walking from his home in North Malvern to Midsummer Hill and back. He is hoping to complete his epic walking challenge in a time of 13 hours.
The Just Walk event, organised by UK event management company Across The Divide, will set off from Goodwood Racecourse near Chichester on the morning of Saturday 7th May and offers charity supporters a choice of walking routes over the South Downs and West Sussex countryside, from 10km to the longest at 60km (38 mile).
Mr Hawkins said; “This will be the eighth time I have taken on a long distance challenge but I expect that this might be my last! Last year I finished 25th out of the 75 walkers completing the longest 60km trail and it would be fantastic to do as well this year, particularly as I celebrate a special birthday just a few weeks later. Hospice care is a cause very close to my heart, not least because my daughter is a hospice nurse, and so I am hoping to raise as much money as possible to help St Richard’s continue to provide free care to those in need.”
David will be leading four walks for the Malvern Walking Festival at the end of May and for Herefordshire Walking Festival at the end of June. He also leads walks for the Leadon Vale branch of the Ramblers.
To support David’s challenge visit www.justgiving.com/David-Hawkins22