‘Dads Army’ walk into the night for Hospice Services, in memory of Steve

In November 2023, a team of six friends and colleagues took part in a 30 mile day trek, in memory of their friend Steve Goldsmith.

Steve was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease at a young age and received care from Arthur Rank Hospice Charity services.

In honour of Steve, and in support of the Charity that cared for him, Simon, Felix, Philip, Mawuena, John and Barry decided to walk from Shepperton to the Devils Punchbowl in Hindhead. They set off at six o clock in the morning and trekked all day and into the night, over a 12 hour period. Over the course of the day, the group recorded that they had clocked up an impressive 65,000 steps each, stopping only for a total of one hour, in ten-minute bursts.

Simon, friend and Team Captain of the Trek, commented:

“The care that Steve received was exceptional and made the rest of his life as comfortable as possible. We decided to raise money for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, so that the money can go towards the funding of equipment and care for others like Steve.”

Simon went on to explain:

“We all knew Steve, and like Steve, we’re all Dads. We wanted to walk from our houses, to a place that represented Steve’s outdoorsy, adventurous side, with enough beauty to justify the long walk and give us something to look at and remember Steve by.

The first 26 miles were great, but the last four miles were difficult. We met loads of people on the way, stopping to help someone to start their car and refuelling at a café with donated rocky road cakes!”

 

Victoria Kidd, Community Fundraiser commented:

“We are so proud of the group for taking on such an enormous challenge. This is an incredible way to remember their friend and colleague together. We are so grateful for their support for the Charity.”

If you can help ‘Dads Army’ in reaching their £5,000 target, please donate at www.justgiving.com/team/eightblokesgoforawander

If you would like to support people in Cambridgeshire living with an advanced serious illness or other life-limiting condition and would like to take on a challenge for the Charity, please email Vic at cf@arhc.org.uk or call 01223 675888.