Local resident Caroline Linton recently walked the Island’s 70-mile coastal path to raise vital funds in aid of the research charity Cure Parkinson’s.
Caroline, who lives with Parkinson’s, has completed the walking challenge for 3 consecutive years and has no plans to stop this annual fundraiser anytime soon.
She was inspired to take on this annual walking challenge by Cure Parkinson’s late co-founder Tom Isaacs, who set off on a year-long, 4,500-mile walk around the coast of Britain in 2002.
Caroline says:
“Soon after my diagnosis five years ago I stumbled across Tom Isaacs’s book, Shake Well Before Use. I was so inspired by his story – of determination, perseverance and optimism.
“I decided the least I could do was to walk the island coastal path if Tom Isaacs had done the entire British coastline. I decided I would do this every year until I couldn’t.”
Although Caroline didn’t specifically train to prepare for the 70-mile walk, since her diagnosis, she has really valued the importance of exercise to help manage her symptoms and has taken up strength training. She also recently adopted a rescue lurcher to encourage her to head out on daily walks.
For this year’s challenge, Caroline was joined by a close friend and both had a great time – even a spot of rather bad weather couldn’t dampen their spirits. Plus, with encouragement from the Parkinson’s community on the island, she raised over £1,200!
Caroline said:
“We always treated ourselves to two coffee stops each day, these being particularly enjoyable and energising when the weather was rough. The greatest highlight was the island, and stopping to take photos of so many superb views slowed us down on some days.”
To find out more about Cure Parkinson’s and how you can take on your own walking challenge for the charity, please visit https://cureparkinsons.org.uk/get-involved/walk-to-cure/.
