A COUPLE from Westbury are currently lacing up their walking boots in the Himalayas, taking part in a trek to Everest Base Camp to raise money for Dorothy House.
Jon and Julie Street headed to the Himalayas and are walking 85 miles over 13 days, achieving a height gain of 9,136 feet, topping out at 18,519 feet above sea level, all in aid of Dorothy House.
Julie Street is a first contact triage nurse at the Winsley Dorothy House hospice. She has been in nursing all her working life having joined the army in 1974. She has dealt with the whole range of nursing from working as a midwife, to providing end of life care in the community.
Jonathan Street joined the army in 1977 and competed 22 years’ service as automotive technician. He left the army in 1999 to work as a training support technician, dealing with simulated battlefield weaponry. He worked in Europe, Kenya and Canada. In 2009 he worked in a team supplying training to UK and multinational forces in Afghanistan. He left them in 2013 to supply breakdown cover for a large fleet supplier, and then retired in 2016.
Together they have taken part in many long fundraising walks; 27-mile end-to- end Isle of Wight (5 times), Jurassic Challenge – 32 miles along the Dorset coast, two Bath Half marathons to name a few and they have also scaled Snowdon a few times and Ben Nevis once.
Jon Street said, “Our aim is fundraising for the Dorothy House Hospice. They provide end-of-life care for a large section of Wiltshire. This care also extends to their families, often overlooked. The care that they provide is funded by charitable donations with a small input from the NHS. At the moment 87% of all donations goes to those in need, a massive percentage. The catchment area spreads from Malmsbury in the north to Salisbury to the south.
“I know that everyone and his dog has their hand out for something nowadays and everyone feels that theirs is a deserving cause. Dorothy House is a worthwhile cause and needs many thousands just to keep going. If you can spare any amount, we would be grateful beyond belief. Please take five minutes to read about Dorothy House and have a look at my Justgiving page. 85 miles is a long way to walk, but it’s nothing, nothing compared to the journey that the recipients of care at Dorothy House are undergoing. If you do donate – don’t forget Giftaid, it’s a free 25% on top of your donation from the taxman!”
If you would like to donate to Jon and Julie’s fundraiser please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jonathan-street2.
