Legacy
Legacy
Please note: this post is 118 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only
On 12th September, volunteer Connie is walking 50km in aid of South London Cares as part of the Thames Path Challenge. Here, she explains what inspired her fundraise for the charity.
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From The White House to Downing Street and Ilkley Moor to the streets of Camden, training for South London Cares 50km Thames Path Challenge has taken me around the globe. With less than a fortnight to go to the big day itself, I thought I’d fill you in on what’s spurred me on to raise money for this fantastic charity.
So let's start with why I’m trekking 50km along the Thames. Well, over the last eight years of working as a doctor I've been privileged to meet the most amazing people. One such memory is that of an elderly gentleman who I saw in accident & emergency with a suspected mini-stroke.
After asking him the standard questions about whether he'd experienced any facial drooping or limb weakness, my next question brought a response that almost had me in tears. I asked him if he'd noticed whether his speech had been slurred and he told me that he couldn't answer that question as he had no one at home to talk to. That moment has stuck with me for years.
This encounter is why I’m doing all that I can to support South London Cares. They’re doing a great job at tackling loneliness by building community links between young professionals and their older neighbours. So now, whenever I come across an older adult who is feeling isolated, I know where to turn.
After hearing about the charity from a colleague, I went along to an induction to find out more. I left inspired by their work and it wasn’t long before I’d signed up for the challenge.
My training has led me across eight London boroughs past dinosaurs and Downing Street; across the beautiful West Yorkshire countryside where a stony cow and calf stand proud on Ilkley Moor; and all the way to the gates of The White House.
Now all that’s left to do is stay in shape for the big day itself! On 12th September I’m looking forward to walking with the rest of the Cares family. I can't wait to share our achievements with our elderly neighbours at the next cooking club or film night or tech workshop or art club…
Connie is just one of 27 amazing volunteers doing the Thames Path Challenge in aid of South London Cares. You too can make a difference; just check out our Fundraise pages to see how!