January 2006
82 YEAR OLD CHARITY FUNDRAISER COMPLETES 1,200 MILE WALK
82 year old Dr Antony Twort, a Royal Star & Garter Home supporter recently completed an astounding 1,200 mile route from John O ‘Groats to Land’s End to raise funds for the Charity. Dr Twort kept in touch with The Royal Star & Garter by sending postcards and letters from wherever he was able to, informing us of his whereabouts. With several of these long walks already under his belt, Dr Twort was determined he could do it again, even at 82 years of age.
He set out in September, exclaiming he was doing it for “50% Charity and 50% fun”! Even through difficult times and rough terrain, the good Doctor kept in high spirits. For the first part, he travelled from John O’ Groats to Inverness and then made his way along the Great Glen Way, taking the West Highland Way to Glasgow. The ‘incident with the cat’ was rather memorable as the benevolent Dr Twort took it upon himself to carry an injured cat, found on the roadside, to the nearest help – several miles, away despite already carrying all his necessities on his back throughout the entire journey! Taking him by surprise, Dr Twort met a man he had met four times previously on the West Highland Way whilst embarking in this challenge many times past. Extreme weather conditions at ‘Devil’s Staircase’ proved too traumatic to tackle so Dr Twort had to discontinue his journey while he recovered. However, starting where he left off, not a single part of the journey was missed. Retracing his steps, Dr Twort covered nothing less than every step of the way, reaching Land’s End on 20th December.
Dr Twort is now resting at his Surrey home whilst catching up with friends and family and ploughing through all his fan mail!
If you would like to support this awe-inspiring fundraising effort, please call 020 8439 8167 or send donations to ‘1,200 Mile Walk Appeal’, The Royal Star & Garter Home, Richmond Hill, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6RR.
About the Royal Star & Garter Charity
The Royal Star & Garter Home, an independent registered charity based in Richmond, has been caring for disabled ex-Service personnel since 1916. The Charity offers the best in nursing and residential care plus a range of therapies. There are also a wide variety of leisure activities available for our residents to enjoy, both inside and outside the Home. In future years, The Royal Star & Garter Charity intends to build new homes, in the Richmond area and elsewhere, in which to provide specialist care for the elderly disabled, and for those with dementia for whom there is very little provision at present.
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FURTHER INFO: Rebecca Spencer, Marketing & Communications Co-ordinator TEL: 020 8439 8118 or EMAIL: rebecca.spencer@starandgarter.org