An Island woman is urging fellow Islanders to take part in a memorial walk to help raise money for the newly formed Ray and Rosemary Scovell Trust, which supports young people through sport and theatre.
Ray and Rose Scovell were well-known and much-loved Island individuals, who committed their lives to both sport and the arts, with Ray a well-known figure in the Isle of Wight’s athletics communities – and was the brainchild behind the ParkRun on the Island.
Tragically, Ray passed away in January after being taken to hospital with non-Covid-related illness, but later contracted the virus and deterioated. Ray’s wife, Rose, sadly passed away just days later after also testing positive for coronavirus. Rose was also well-known in the athletics circle and was also a keen supporter of theatre on the Island.
The Ray and Rosemary Scovell Trust was set up in their memory, and now, prolific Island fundraiser and volunteer Karen Eeles is urging residents to get behind it by participating in a 70-mile walking challenge.
The challenge is set to see those taking part aim to rack up a total of 70 miles of walking (the distance around the Isle of Wight). Participants don’t need to do all the walking in one go, as any walking in the lead up to the 31st August is counted.
We’re urged to walk as an individual, or as a group, with all those taking part receiving medals for their efforts.
Karen Eeles says:
“My dear friends Ray and Rose Scovell lost their lives to Covid within days of each other earlier this year. They had been together for over 60 years and leave behind their daughter and my bestie Claire Apsey and grandson Simon.
Article continues below this advertisement “Claire wanted to remember them and to celebrate all they did for the island, Ray with his athletics and Rose with her love of theatre, so the Ray and Rose Scovell trust was founded to support young people of the island through sport and theatre. Claire is walking around the island to raise money in their memory.
“Now I’m a lot older and a lot less fit! But I can walk, and I do have a few friends that will support me”
If you’d like to take part, you can email [email protected]. You can also donate to Karen’s personal challenge on her JustGiving page here.
