Great Western locals in Warwick go trekking

23/07/10

LOCALS at the Great Western pub in Warwick don’t do things by halves. Twenty-six of them plan to walk the Hadrian’s Wall Coast to Coast Challenge in three days in aid of Bowel...

Great Western locals in Warwick go trekking

LOCALS at the Great Western pub in Warwick don’t do things by halves. Twenty-six of them plan to walk the Hadrian’s Wall Coast to Coast Challenge in three days in aid of Bowel & Cancer Research and Help for Heroes.

“We’ve set ourselves a bit of a challenge, but so long as everyone enjoys themselves and we raise lots of money, it will be worth it,” said organiser Paul French, 41, from Woodcote Road, Warwick. Friends and family will provide back-up in the way of transport, food and sorting out campsites along the 84-mile route from Northumberland to Cumbria. 

Training in earnest has begun for the walk on August 1. “We did 24 miles a few weeks ago. It was blisteringly hot, everyone got sunburnt and it nearly finished us off – but we’ll be fine!” said Paul. 

They’ve also had a bit of practice – last year 12 regulars from the Great Western in Coventry Road had a go at the Three Peaks Challenge and raised £2,500 for the Warwickshire Air Ambulance. This year they hope to raise a great deal more for the two charities, and will present a cheque at the Great Western’s annual music festival charity event ‘GW Fest’ on August 7.  

“It’s a great pub and a fantastic event, so this year we want to trump our previous efforts and raise a lot more money,” said Paul, who works for Contemporary Controls Ltd in Sir William Lyons Road, Coventry. The other main organisers are Paul’s friends Andy Clark and Brian MacAulay.   

Paul chose to support Bowel & Cancer Research because his mum Joyce, 73, is undergoing treatment for bowel cancer and his dad John, 73, had emergency surgery for colitis earlier this year.  

Deborah Gilbert, Head of Development said: ”We’re very grateful for Paul’s support. Bowel cancer affects 35,000 people in the UK each year. Our aim is to reduce that figure, to save lives and to change lives.”   Paul can be contacted on 0773 562 6000. Anyone who would like to support the Hadrian’s Wall walkers can do so at www.justgiving.com/HadriansWallCoasttoCoastChallenge