“Walks have played a big part in my recovery” says Tony, who’d recommend Big Fun Walk 2023 to anyone wanting a great day out

March 17, 2023

“Walks have played a big part in my recovery, so when I heard about Big Fun Walk it gave me a goal to aim for,” said Tony, the former Managing Director of Stanford Travel.

                                   

Tony suffered a brain aneurysm in 2019, which affected his mobility, speech and memory. “I was a normal bloke and then suddenly the aneurysm struck, and my family were being told I had little chance of survival. So, to think that three years later I would be completing an 8.5-mile walk is an achievement I’m incredibly proud of.”

 

Tony and his good friend Andrew are members of the Finchley Business Club, which supports North London Hospice, and it was during a talk from the fundraising team that they learned of our flagship fundraiser and decided to register for the 2022 event. Each year more than 1,000 supporters walk 8.5 miles from East Finchley to Westminster through London’s most famous parks and raise much needed funds for patient care.

 

“I’ve had to work hard to regain movement and my speech.  I’m partially blind in both eyes and I have difficulties with memory. But I’m getting stronger and stronger. There are still big gaps in my memory, and I have to relearn things every day, but I had a wonderful moment on the walk last year when we walked past Highgate School and it unlocked memories. I said to Andrew ‘That’s my old school!’. It was an incredible feeling to suddenly remember that part of my life,” added Tony, who lives in Whetstone.

 

“The walk itself was a brilliant day. It was lovely to see so many people in their Big Fun Walk t-shirts. There was great camaraderie with fellow walkers. Lots of marshalls at check points ensured we were on the right route and didn’t get lost! And the lunch bags are a lovely touch. We sat at the top of Primrose Hill and ate our picnic.”

                                                   

Tony and Andrew raised more than £2,000 for the hospice and Tony already has his sights set on taking part in our 2023 event on Sunday 21 May.

 

“The hospice provides a very valuable service to the community we live in, so it felt really good to take part in one of their events and raise much needed funds,” said Andrew. “I walk with Tony twice a week and Big Fun Walk was by far the longest walk we had ever done together, but it was a fantastic feeling when we reached the finish line and could say we’d done it. I’d highly recommend taking part. We met some wonderful people along the way.”

                                                   

 

If you’re inspired to sign up for Big Fun Walk 2023 on Sunday 21 May, click here for more information.