Ken Horan completes 81-mile walk from Derby to Heywood Cricket Club

The walkers with Mayor Ray Dutton and Mayoress Elaine Dutton

Ken Horan was joined by friends Paul, Bruce and Rudy and his daughters Karen and Julie on an 81-mile walk from Derby to Heywood Cricket Club in aid of Parkinson’s last week.

They set off from Derby on Monday 1 August and were greeted by the Mayor and Mayoress upon the completion of the walk at Heywood Cricket Club on Friday 5 August.

Ken, who tries to complete at least one charity walk per year in aid of Parkinson’s, explained why he raises money for that charity: “I have had a friend for a long time who has been suffering from Parkinson’s. I’ve made many more friends who have Parkinson’s since then too, so I do it for them.

“The walk was tough and at the moment I have got ten black toes. It was painful, but the people who have Parkinson’s can’t quit, so they spurred me on to think ‘this is who I am doing it for.’

“I like walking, this is my tenth one after I started ten years ago. I do it once a year for Parkinson’s and raise money for the Rochdale branch in Castleton. We’ve raised about £5,000 for this year at the moment, but we’re hoping to get £10,000.”

Ken also spoke about the empowering finish to the five-day walk, which saw them welcomed back by former Mayor Jim Gartside as well as the current Mayor and Mayoress:

“We had about 80 people in the end walking back to Heywood cricket club. It was very impressive and quite emotional.

“Rothwell’s coaches put on free transport for people to go to Ashton and walk back with us from there to Heywood on the last day. It was all very enjoyable and with some nice people.”

The 81-mile walk was mainly made up of routes on main roads, but also included some short cuts and alternate routes on country lanes. The group of walkers stayed in basic Travel Lodge and Premier Inn hotel rooms on each night of the week.

To donate, visit:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Kenandpaul