Oxfordshire brother duo Robert and Al have put their best foot forward, trekking from Oxford to Christchurch to raise vital funds for Sue Ryder.
Robert (60) and Al (64) Romanes, decided to lace up their walking boots for the national healthcare and bereavement charity because of the ‘exceptional’ care Sue Ryder Nurses are currently providing their mother, Mary.
Robert, from Aldworth, said: “My mother used to fundraise for Sue Ryder and many other charities throughout her life. She is a real care giver and would always be looking for ways to give back. She has just celebrated her 94th birthday, and recently her health has been declining and she has needed more support.
“We have been using private nursing and we also got in touch with Sue Ryder Palliative Care Hub South Oxfordshire, and the difference they have made is incredible.
When I went to visit my mum after Sue Ryder Nurses had made their intervention, I was taken aback with how much they were doing to support our carers and with the equipment they had installed.
They are the experts when it comes to dying well, and it was from this positive experience that my brother Al and I decided to give something back.
“We are both quite fit from playing golf and Al is an avid walker and has always wanted to do a walk from Oxford to the sea. We felt like now was a great time with all the support Sue Ryder is giving us.”
On 20 July, Robert and Al set off from Christ Church College in Oxford, ending at Christchurch in Dorset – covering a whopping 115 miles in nine days.
Robert continued: “The first two days were pretty exhausting, and at the end it felt like we were 80 and 84, not 60 and 64! We covered between 11 and 14 miles per day and saw some incredible landscapes through Berkshire and Wiltshire. Some of our highlights were The Thames Path, The White Horse at Uffington, The Marlborough Downs, Salisbury Cathedral and the New Forest.
“When we finished we felt relieved, but satisfied.”
“We have raised £4,500 so far with money still expected to come in. We are really pleased to have been able to give something back, we were determined to do something of significance with all the care and support Sue Ryder are giving us right now.”
To donate to the Romanes brothers’ walking challenge, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/robert-romanes-1719217457962
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