WESTBURY man, Kevin Down and his team of walkers, including a team in Canada, walked eight miles in aid of Dorothy House, in memory of Kevin’s late wife, Gill.
The sixth annual Bath Men’s Walk was held on Saturday 17th March in aid of Bath Rugby Foundation and Dorothy House Hospice Care.
Kevin and his team of friends and family called ‘Gill’s Boys’ took part in the event for the third year running. They walked in memory of Kevin’s wife, Gill, who died of cancer in December 2016 after being cared for by Dorothy House.
Kevin’s friend Sgt Keith Terry usually joins him on the annual walk, but this year is currently based in Alberta, Canada. In a show of support, Keith signed up nine soldiers based at the British Army Training Unit in Alberta, to walk 8 miles carrying 25Kg packs in temperatures as low as -25 degrees late at night, all in aid of Dorothy House.
Gill was first diagnosed with cancer in 2013 aged 43. Kevin said, “Dorothy House came into our lives when we needed them. The whole of the hospice care and family support team were amazing and helped us come to terms with Gill’s diagnosis and the needs of the children.
“I took part in the walk for two reasons, in memory of my wife, Gill, and to give something back to Dorothy House. All their staff are amazing and we couldn’t have wanted for better care for Gill. I hope our two Gill’s Boys teams walking in the UK and Canada have raised a good amount to help the hospice continue to support families through a difficult time in their lives. I just want to say a big thank you to the people in Canada who walked the eight miles in memory of Gill, but who had never met her.”
Sgt Keith Terry from the Canadian ‘Gill’s Boys’ team said, ”We did this walk to raise much-needed funds for a worthy charity and in support of Kevin Down and the rest of Gill’s Boys, some 4271 miles away in the UK. Please donate generously and show your support by donating to www.justgiving. com/fundraising/1platoon 6reme.”
Right: The UK ‘Gill’s Boys’ team (Kevin is back row, second from left). Below: The Canadian ‘Gill’s Boys’ team. (Keith is back row, third from the left).
