by Alan Quick

A CREDITON man is aiming to complete a 100-mile walk in four days in aid of the Bramble Children’s ward at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

Ron Stagg, who will be 60 on April 19, said that to mark his “milestone” birthday, he wants to raise funds for the ward which “had been really good to my family over many years.”

While he has not done as many training walks as he would have liked, Ron said that he recently completed a 10-mile walk and hopes to do another in the near future.

He intends to complete his challenge on April 29 and 30 and May 1 and 2, each of his sons walking 25-miles with him on three of the days and, hopefully, his brother-in-law walking with him on the other day.

Craig will be walking with him on day one, his brother-in-law Barry, hopefully on day two, son James and cousin, Trevor, on day three and son Gary walking on the last leg.

Ron hopes that his grandson, Jake (6), who is treated at the hospital for a rare condition every two weeks, will join him for part of the last section and when he completes the challenge.

Ron, who works at Chris Hodgson Engineering at Hollocombe, near Winkleigh, intends to walk from Crediton to Newton Abbot, then Totnes to Dartmouth and then Starcross to Exeter Quay.

Ron, of Westernlea, Crediton, hopes to raise in the region of £1,000 from his sponsored walk and anyone who would like to sponsor him can do so by filling out a sponsor form at Sarah’s Barber Shop or by contacting Ron on telephone 01363 772891.

Ron said: “I would like to thank everyone who has been so generous in donating a lot of money.

“This includes my family and work colleagues and my son James, who has kindly supplied the shirts we will be wearing and put a lot of time into organising it with me.

“I would like to thank Sarah’s Barber Shop for their support and also my mum and Allan for buying my walking boots.”

Ron added: “The Bramble ward is planning a new play area and so the timing of my walk and fundraising could not have come at a better time.”