A Rickmansworth man is leading five friends and his son on a gruelling 100km walk from London to Brighton for the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity.
The group, which is being led by Ricky Salisbury, have been friends for over 20 years and are planning on completing the 76-mile walk this weekend (Saturday, May 25) without stopping in an estimated time of 25 to 27 hours.
Ricky, who has been running charity events for five years, came up with the long distance walk and roped Scott, Dominic, Jon, Grace, Kelsey and his son Chase to join him.
He wanted the money to go towards the charity because they put smiles on sick children’s faces.
Ricky said: “We do a different charity event each year and we thought the walk would be a good test for us. Last year we did a charity boxing event for Keech Hospice so this year we wanted to do something for children which is why we chose Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity.”
Ricky and the group are expecting a difficult walk but will pull together during the challenging moments.
He added: “It is a long and enduring walk and to make it even worse, we will be doing it throughout the night so we know it is going to be tough. But the group will motivate each other through the darker moments so we will manage it.
“It is going to be the most difficult thing us guys will have done but will be worth the pain, agony and tears to raise as much money as we can for this fantastic charity.”
One of the friends, Dominic Gardner, from Chorleywood, is looking forward to completing the walk for a great cause.
He said: “I am excited for the walk and to be doing it for such a fantastic charity makes it even better. I think it will get us all through the tough moments.
“We are as prepared as we can be. Walking through the middle of the night will be difficult but as long we have each other we will be fine.”
From left to right, Scott Wheatley, Dominic Gardner, Chase Salisbury, Ricky Salisbury, Jon Blanks, Grace Walshe and Kelsey Smith.
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