Friends complete sponsored walk from Kneesall to Weston for Beaumond House Community Hospice

Three young friends have successfully completed a sponsored walk of eight miles, raising more than £1,500 for charity in the process.

Ruby Doyle, 7, Devon Henson, 8, and and Isla Henson, 6, walked in strong winds from the Hay Barn Café in Kneesall via Laxton and Egmanton to Weston on Friday.

The girls, who all go to Kneesall Primary School, were accompanied by their mothers, Paula Doyle and Luan Henson, and a group of older friends and parents who had heard about their effort.

The girls wanted to spend their summer holidays working towards a fitness goal while raising some money for a worthy cause. They chose Beaumond House Community Hospice, Newark, as charity close to their hearts

Undaunted by the forecast of 40mph winds they set off from Kneesall at 9.30am and walked through fields, tracks and paths to avoid roads.

They had a planned stop at The Dovecote Inn in Laxton, where drinks were waiting for them, and then continued to Egmanton and along a short stretch of the old A1 leading them to the The Birds’ Nest Café at Hall Farm Granary in Weston, where they arrived in great spirits at their target time of 12.30pm.

They were welcomed by café owner Lesley Tindall with a balloon arch and applause from their waiting family and friends.

Sponsorship was collected through a Just Giving page and a box at The Birds’ Nest as well as a sponsorship form. Kat Wright from Beaumond House was there to welcome the party and to thank the children for their efforts.

She accepted a cheque for £1,150 for hospice, which was already out of date as people had contributed more money at the arrival point and continue to do so.

Kat said the donation and the efforts of all the young people were particularly welcome as so many fund raising events had been cancelled due to the pandemic.