And we would walk 300 miles...
PALS’ CHARITY WALK FROM EDINBURGH CASTLE TO SWAD
A GROUP of friends are to walk hundreds of miles from Edinburgh Castle to Swadlincote in just 10 days.
Callum Worker and pals Joe Elkin, Jordan Parker, Nick Sewell and Simone Baxter will trek to The Greyhound Inn, in Ashby Road, Woodville – 300 miles.
It will mean covering 30 miles a day, more than a marathon, in a bid to beat their deadline. The walk will start on Thursday, August 18, and finish on Sunday, August 28 - if there are no coronavirus regulations affecting the stunt.
The pals will be raising funds for Me & Dee, a charity that helps make memories for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
The walks started six years ago and have continued to get bigger – with last year’s from Brighton to Swadlincote raising £24,000.
It started with raising money for Birmingham’s Children’s Hospital after medics there saved the life of Callum’s daughter Ivy, now six.
She was very ill and still has heart mummers and small holes in her heart but is now doing well.
After raising money for the hospital for the first few years, the pals went on to help different charities and ask members of the Miles for
Smiles Facebook page to suggest a charity. Me & Dee got the most mentions so the walkers voted on it – and the charity got the nod. Callum said: “It’s a great charity for what they do for families who are going through horrendous times. They are trying to make memories as no family should go through what they are.
“If us raising money gives families more holidays and memories then we are good for that.” So far, 32 businesses are sponsoring the walk, including K Borley and Sons, based in Swadlincote, where the 28-yearold works.
As well as giving him paid time off, it also provides the campervan and always supports the charity effort.
The dad-of-two, from Woodville, said they are now preparing for the mammoth walk. He said: “We are putting the miles in. We’ve walked back from Pride Park in Derby and do 15 to 20 miles most Sundays and we are walking from Aston Villa next Bank holiday.
“Most of the team meets up and put in as many miles as we can. We all work so it’s finding a happy medium.
“In whatever I do I’m a very passionate guy so each year when we do this thing it’s non-stop. Every day there is something going on.
“The support from the community has been phenomenal over the last few years.
“We’re not far off 5,000 members on the Facebook group.”
There will be other fundraising activities like a massive raffle with 250 prizes to raise more money
Callum said: “It’s non-stop but if we’re going to be walking 300 miles in 10 days then the fund-raising is the easy part as that’s going to result in us raising a lot more.
“I would ask people to look up Me & Dee that we are doing it for if they have some spare time to see what it’s about as it’s a great charity. It’s such a worthy cause.
“These guys are taking 10 days of work and from their families so anything you donate would be great.”
The team is still looking for raffle donations and business sponsorship and people can also show their support by liking the Miles for Smiles Facebook page.
Callum can be contacted by those wanting to sponsor or donate prizes by messaging the Facebook page or calling 07854 776003.
Anyone wanting to make a donation can do so by visiting the Facebook page at www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/callum-worker4