A CREDITON man who completed a 100-mile sponsored walk in five days to raise £2,580 for the Bramble Children’s ward at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital was a guest at the grand opening of the new play area which his donation helped to fund.

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

Ron, of Westernlea, Crediton, completed his challenge on April 29 and 30 and May 1, 2 and 3, a family member or friend walking with him along parts of the route.

Ron’s grandson, Jake (6), is treated at the hospital for a rare condition every two weeks.

Ron works at Chris Hodgson Engineering at Hollocombe, near Winkleigh, and walked a route from Crediton to Newton Abbot, Totnes to Dartmouth and Starcross to Exeter Quay.

More than £32,000 has been raised to fund the play area since 2014, much of it raised by Exeter Lions who funded the original play area which the new area replaces.

The play area has been given a full range of new brightly coloured equipment including large wooden climbing frame, walkways, buggies and play house. It has also been resurfaced with a child-friendly “soft bounce” material that will last for many years to come.

Every child loves a playground but at the Bramble ward it is described as an essential area to help recovery and boost the well-being of the many brave children and young people who need to stay on the ward.

The play area was officially opened at a special celebration on May 25.

Sarah Haywood, Senior Nurse for Paediatrics at the RD and E Hospital, said: “This campaign has been an incredible journey for all of us and we are so proud and delighted that it has been possible to raise so much money to make such an improvement to the outside play area.

“We could not have done this without the support, dedication and generosity of all the fundraisers involved, and I would like to publically thank them for everything they’ve done and continue to do for the RD and E and our children, young people and families.

“The new play area is a wonderful outside space which will serve our children and their families well for many years to come.”

Sarah added: “We’re really grateful to Ron for all his efforts.”

Alan Quick