Stroud charity walkers are putting their best feet forward.
Sporting fancy dress outfits, Ian Guy, son Bradley, and Conrad Bull have previously raised thousands of pounds over the years for charities, including MND, Teckles Animal Sanctuary, and this year will be stomping out for the Great Western Ambulance Service.
The catalyst behind this event was a love of walking and a desire to help raise funds for Motor Neuron Disease, an illness that had sadly resulted in the loss of both Ian’s mother Peggy Guy and sister Linda Wichard.
After raising £1,600 for MND the trio decided to make it an annual event and for the following two years they raised a further £3680 for Teckels Animal Sanctuary.
This year’s charity is the Great Western Ambulance Service, who last year benefited from a record £3350 – the most monies raised to date for one walk by the team. Although with more than £3400 already raised this year, Ian is confident they will smash their record.
Ian Cantoni, community co-ordinator from Great Western Ambulance Service said: “The air ambulance is not supported by government funding and with each call out costing around £2000 a time we rely heavily on the kind donations from members of the public, like Ian, Bradley and Conrad, to keep it in operation. Unfortunately, during the past year, particularly because of COVID, we have received record numbers of call out so every penny we can get really does count!”
On Saturday, August 28th, dressed in Rock & Roll outfits, the men will cover nearly 30 miles starting at Highnam and then heading on to Hempstead, Kingsway, Whitminster, Leonard Stanley, King’s Stanley and Cainscross. With the finish planned outside the Jolly Fryer and Premier Store in Cashes Green, both establishments have been huge supporters of their fundraising exploits.
Ian’s dad Geoff will be waiting at the finish to welcome home the team.
Unfortunately, due to injury Conrad has had to pull out of this year’s event. However, they will not be alone as joining them, also in fancy dress, are husband & wife Gary and Jo Marsh, Jessica Byrne, and a support car being manned by Jessica’s mum Julie Byrne.
Commenting on the route Ian Guy said: “We always use pathways running parallel to main roads to drum up support. It never ceases to amaze me how supportive and generous people are on route. It has also been a good plan to be close to a road so that our support car can reach us easily. As for the past 3 years, we’ve experienced really hot temperatures, not particularly good when you are covered head to toe in lycra and padded suits.
“However, despite the heat and the painful feet, we do love doing this, and knowing it’s helping worthy causes makes it all worthwhile.”
To find out more about this fundraising event visit Facebook or visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/twoguysandabullwalk5 to donate.
