Lazonby man Rob Sim completed an Outer Hebrides walk from Vatersay to the Butt of Lewis, walking 225 miles to do so in memory of his wife, Fiona, who died last year aged just 59.
He stayed in four different locations — the Isle of Barra, where he and Fiona stayed on their honeymoon in 1990; Benbecula, Harris and finally Stornoway, and has raised over £4,700 for Brain Tumour Research, Eden Valley Hospice and cancer support charity Maggie’s.
Rob said: “We spent our honeymoon on the Isle of Barra in May, 1990, and after a holiday on Benbecula with Fiona’s Mum in 2022 we planned to return to Barra in 2023. We didn’t get to fulfil that plan, as, on 12th January, 2023, Fiona was taken ill with a brain tumour and, after undergoing a craniotomy, was given her devastating diagnosis of an aggressive glioblastoma multiforme on her 59th birthday.
“She went through six weeks chemoradiation at The Freeman Hospital in Newcastle and also joined a clinical trial that required her to take a foul tasting drink three times a day at eight-hourly intervals, including at one o’clock in the morning, but by the end of August she had developed clots on her lungs and she became too exhausted to undergo any further treatment.
“At the end of September she was admitted to Eden Valley Hospice in Carlisle and died on 25th October. The three charities I am fundraising for are very important to us as a family. During the six weeks of chemoradiation and subsequent appointments at The Freeman Hospital we were regular visitors to Maggie’s for a cup of tea, a chat or just a quiet corner; we were both looked after wonderfully at Eden Valley Hospice; and Brain Tumour Research is dedicated to helping everyone affected by a brain tumour to live a longer, better life.
Fiona spent a lifetime helping family, friends and others as a health visitor and in various voluntary roles, including raising over £4,200 for a cot death charity by completing an arduous trek in the Peruvian Andes in 2004.”
Describing his walk route, he said: “From South Uist northwards most days I was able to park my car at either the start or end of my day’s walking and use the excellent bus services to get as close as possible to the other end.
“It was a wet and misty start on Barra but thereafter the weather was on my side and it stayed dry and sunny on most days. Fiona’s brother, Andrew Hall, and wife Helen joined me for a few days on Harris, as did two of our sons, Ed and Tom, and Tom’s wife, Kristen.
“So far the total raised on the Givewheel page is over £4,700 plus over £800 in gift aid.
“People have been extremely generous and the messages show how highly thought of Fiona was and how much she is missed.
“I also received a number of cash donations while completing the walk that I have yet to add in.”
Donations in memory of Fiona can still be made at www.givewheel.com/fundraising/2502/best-foot-forward-for-fiona/
