Walk aims to keep medics airborne

A Southwell man plans to walk Hadrian’s Wall to raise money for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire air ambulance.

Mr Peter Gault (43) of Leeway Road and his colleague, Mr Chris Freeman of Lincoln, want to raise £2,000 by completing the 85 miles from Bowness-on-Solway to Wallsend.

They decided to raise money for the air ambulance after it was picked as Lincolnshire Co-operative Ltd’s charity of the year. They both work for the company.

“We went to meet the people who were involved with fund raising for the air ambulance and the paramedics who are based at RAF Waddington and we were struck by how important the air ambulance is,” said Mr Gault.

“People don’t really realise how important it is until something terrible happens and they need to use it. It is always in service.”

Mr Gault said they hoped to finish the walk in five days and would complete a daily web blog to keep people up to date with their progress.

“I’m originally from Newcastle and my mother is from Wallsend so I know the area and it is a good cross country route with a beginning, middle and an end,” said Mr Gault.

The pair will set off on May 6.

“We’ve already started training,” said Mr Gault.

“We’ve done a lot of long distance cross-country walks and hill work to prepare us for the terrain around Hadrian’s Wall.”

His wife, Mrs Hayley Gault and children Danny (14) Lily (4) and Emily (2) will be at Wallsend to meet him at the finish line.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Mr Gault and Mr Freeman can do so at www.justgiving.com/ hadrianswalk08