Parkinson's sufferer walks distance of Hadrian’s Wall around property for charity

Bill Watkins, from St John's in Worcester, says he can no longer expect to visit the wall and so is raising money for Parkinson’s UK and NHS Charities Together by walking the same distance around his home.

Mr Watkins, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s four ago, said: “I have decided to do this walk in aid of the NHS and Parkinson’s UK.

“I have wanted to walk Hadrian’s Wall for several years, but now four years on from my diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease with my mobility and fatigue issues, achieving the real thing would be unrealistic to me.

“I would like to do something worthwhile and beneficial to others. I may have some help from my family, with social distancing in place, in order to complete the daily target, if I have days when tiredness is a real issue.”

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Mr Watkins, aged 59, is hoping to raise £1,600 over the 16 days he is taking on the challenge.

Hadrian’s Wall is 117.5K which equates to 1,862 laps around his bungalow - he will do 133 laps a day.

He added: “It’s something I have always wanted to do but physically can’t do it.

“With all the time on my hands at the moment during lockdown I thought it would be a good thing to do for charity.

“I would like the money to go to the nurses who had their cars broken into. They need compensation. I think things like that get missed. I would like to raise money for them. Why should they suffer when they’re working so hard to save lives?”

His wife, Debbie said: “His condition has affected the whole family. We are all behind him. He suffers with fatigue so it’s a courageous what he’s doing.”

Mr Watkins started the challenge on Saturday and has so far raised £423.

To see more, go to Willy Walks the Wall for Parkinson’s and NHS Charities Together on Facebook. For donations, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/willywalksthewall