MORE than 45 residents, staff, and friends from a Solihull and Alcester retirement community laced up their walking boots to tackle a 20-mile walk, raising both funds and awareness for Parkinson’s UK.
The stroll, on September 20, was inspired by 72-year-old John Lewis, a resident of Austin Heath care home who lives with Parkinson’s.
John has long been a passionate advocate for raising awareness of the condition, and his enthusiasm inspired fellow residents to get involved in the challenge, after he previously took part in Inspired Villages’ 7,500-mile community challenge earlier this year, helping raise funds for ProstAid.
The group completed their journey in just under seven hours, stopping along the way for well-earned breaks, helping to support the charity’s mission to improve the lives of those affected by the condition and fund essential research.
John said: “It’s incredible to see so many people come together for Parkinson’s UK. Every bit of support counts, and I’m incredibly thankful to everyone who joined in.”
Great Alne Park residents Mike, 74, and Pauline, 70, said “We’ve always loved walking, so we couldn’t miss the opportunity to support Parkinson’s UK.
“It was a wonderful stroll along the Grand Union Canal, and we were joined by fellow residents and staff from Inspired Villages.
“Our blue Parkinson’s UK T-shirts attracted a lot of attention, and we even had a few special appearances from Captain America and Spider-Man along the way.”
Tania Skerritt, wellness navigator at Great Alne Park, added: “The 20-mile walk in support of Parkinson’s UK was an incredible success.
“It has been truly inspiring to see so many residents and colleagues from Inspired Villages come together for such an important cause.
“The sense of community and commitment throughout has been heartwarming, from the outstanding efforts of the Austin Heath team in organising the event to the participation and support from the local community.”
