Footsore but determined, Linda and Paul Southwell from Wootton have already covered 500 miles and raised nearly £2,700 in their epic walk from Canterbury to Rome in support of a children’s charity close to their hearts.
The couple began their 1,248-mile pilgrimage on 16th May, departing from Canterbury and crossing the Channel by boat from Dover to Calais, as previously reported by Island Echo.
They are trekking the historic Via Francigena route to raise money for the Lily Foundation, a charity that supports children with mitochondrial disease – a rare and complex genetic disorder.
Their motivation came after meeting 3-year-old Teddy Ward from the Isle of Wight, who is living with the condition. Inspired by his story, Linda and Paul took up the challenge to raise awareness and much-needed funds.
Speaking from Switzerland, Paul Southwell has said:
“We have both had aches, pains and blisters. Hiking through a storm was pretty scary.
“But we have made some amazing friends along the way and visited some lovely churches.”
Before setting off, the couple received an anonymous donation of £1,000 – a gesture of generosity that still remains a mystery to them.
The Lily Foundation funds vital research aimed at improving diagnosis, developing treatments and, ultimately, finding a cure for mitochondrial disease.
Linda and Paul’s fundraising efforts can be supported via their JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/page/linda-southwell-1727433732344.
