A group of Masons and friends have embarked on a series of fundraising walks to raise money for the Teddies for Loving Care Appeal Northumberland.
The friends, calling themselves the ‘Mainly Wednesday Walking Group’, are in the process of undertaking the Tyne and Wear Heritage Way, an 80-mile route through North Tyneside, Northumberland and South Tyneside.
TLC is a non-profit masonic charity, which raises funds to provide teddy bears to children’s A&E units, hospital wards and walk-in centres. The bears help NHS staff calm children while they are being examined and treated. Run by volunteers, the teddies are provided solely by the TLC masonic charity, so funds are constantly required.
The group of walkers are donning their walking boots to complete the Heritage Way in stages. They have already finished various stretches from North Shields Ferry Landing to Beamish, and will complete the walk at North Shields. They hope to finish the remaining stages by the end of March or early April.
Having previously completed a charity walk of 96 miles on the West Highland Way in 2022 and raising £2,200, Alan Forrest, Jim Wortherspoon and Rick Hedley, all of Tyne Lodge No. 991 and Jeff Ross, of Buddle Lodge No. 3937 (both lodges being based at Wallsend), accompanied by friends Brian Moore, Ian Pedan and Paul Johnson, formed the walking group and decided to tackle the Heritage Way.
While the walkers do not have a specific target amount , they have already raised £1,200 by taking their sponsor form to several lodges in the Province of Northumberland and with their ‘Just Giving’ page. If you would like to support them, you can donate through JustGiving, which is simple, efficient, fast and secure. Your details are safe. Once you donate, your money is sent directly to the charity.
Find it here: www.justgiving.com/page/alan-forrest-1707935048078
