A CUMBRIAN man passed through Tweeddale last week during his 1,800 miles in 100 days challenge in memory of his wife.
Gary Rushworth, from Burrow-in-Furness, is walking to raise money for the MS Society-funded Octopus Research programme.
And he was greeted at the Innerleithen Memorial Hall by members of the charity's Peebles group who joined him for some well-deserved refreshments and provided him with a warm bed for the night.
Gary said: “I am walking 1,800 miles in 100 days to raise funds and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis in memory of my wife Moira.
“Moira was first diagnosed in 2002 with primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis for which there is no treatment and died in 2020 and that’s still the case today.
“This year would have been Moira’s 60th Birthday and our 35th wedding anniversary and I very much want to achieve something for which she would be proud.
“So, I am walking Britain side to side from the Solway Firth to the Firth of Forth; then end to end from Land’s End to John O’Groats; and side to side again from the Solway Firth to North Sea and back to Longtown.
“During the walk I want to meet with people like the Peebles MS Society group to help them promote what they do to help those affected with MS.
“Last night I camped out at St Mary’s Loch, and the temperature dropped to freezing overnight and when I woke up the tent was covered in frost but then when walking through the beautiful Borders countryside it turned into the hottest day of the year."
Following his stay in Innerleithen last Wednesday, the 64-year-old then walked to Melrose to meet society members who put him up for the night in St Boswells.
Gary added: “The money I raise during my biggest challenge ever will go towards funding MS Octopus project: Advancing clinical trials - giving all MS sufferers the treatment they need.”
Peebles group member Shirley Beveridge said: “We have around 40 members and are there to support people with MS by raising money through coffee mornings and other activity and also support a new free exercise class run by Claire McCaul who is our group co-ordinator and a neuro physiotherapist.”
Claire added: “I’d like to congratulate Gary. It’s such a good cause and I can’t believe that he is walking this far.”
If you are affected by MS and would like more information, please contact Peebles@mssociety.org.uk
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