From Edinburgh to London with love
Postal May 27 2016CWU member Mark Penfold has today (Friday) set off on an epic fundraising walk inspired by the plight of his desperately sick grandson.
18-month old Frankie suffers from the life-limiting Mitochondrial Disease, which affects the central nervoussystem and has no known cure. Mark hopes his Edinburgh to London hike will raise tens of thousands of pounds for research into the cruel genetic condition.
Today the Burnham-on-Sea postman was cheered off by colleagues from Edinburgh’s East Delivery Office as he began the 500-mile trek, during which he will be supported every inch of the way by a combined CWU and Royal Mail support team.
The walk, which follows one of the oldest postal routes in the UK, has been adopted by Royal Mail as one of its programme of events commemorating 500 years of British postal service – and the company has generously agreed to match everything Mark receives in sponsorship up to £20,000,
As of today, nearly £12,000 has been pledged – meaning £22,000 is already in the bag. All proceeds will go to The Lily Foundation, which is currently supporting pioneering research initiatives in to Mitochondrial Disease in the hope that better treatments can be development and a cure ultimately found.
The walk is scheduled to take just over three weeks, with Mark scheduled to cross Tower Bridge on June 18, finally finishing at London’s Guildhall where he will join Royal Mail’s 500th anniversary celebrations in the Capital.
Braced to walk around 20 miles a day, the Bristol & District branch member said: “I’m privileged to be following in the footsteps of ancient postal carriers to mark 500 years of the postal service, but I’m also trying to raise money for a cause close to my heart. I hope I can use a piece of history to change the future for Frankie and for many others with this terrible condition.
“I can’t thank Royal Mail, my colleagues and the CWU enough for the first class help, support and organisation it has taken to get me to the start today.”
Over the coming weeks, Royal Mail employees and Lily Foundation supporters will be out in force along the 500 mile route cheering Mark on in East Linton, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Newcastle, Durham, Darlington, Thirsk, York, Whitely, Doncaster, Carlton-on-Trent, Grantham, Stamford, Sawtry,. Cambridgeshire, Buntingford and Waltham Abbey.
CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: “Mark is taking on this challenge for a fantastic cause. I’m sure CWU members across the UK will join me in wishing him the best of luck as he prepares to set off. Please consider donating to the fund – even the smallest of gestures goes such a long way.”
Royal Mail chief operating officer Sue Whalley added: “Mark’s commitment and dedication to raising money for Frankie is outstanding andwe hope many of our colleagues help him along the route. We always knew our postman and woman were first class; but Mark is the only one with such a long delivery walk!”
Liz Curtis, founder of the Lily Foundation, told of the charity’s immense gratitude on behalf of thousands of families affected by Mitochondrial Disease across the UK.
“Mark’s certainly set himself a huge challenge with this mammoth walk and we’re delighted he is doing it in aid of The Lily Foundation,” she said, adding: “We’d like thank Royal Mail and CWU for all their support with this walk. Good luck Mark.”
For Mark, himself, the motivation to succeed is deeply personal. “Frankie is on my mind 24 hours a day and has a piece of my heart all to himself,” he concludes. “Thinking of Frankie will spur me on to the finish line in London on June 18.”
To find out more about Mitrochondrial Disease visit www.thelilyfoundation.org.uk and to sponsor Mark head to www.sponsorme.co.uk/markpenfold