Caterham postmen on 102-mile trek for St Catherine's Hospice

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisissurreytoday.co.uk/Cate ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

TRUDGING through the streets at daybreak carrying heavy sacks of mail might be enough for most people to contend with.

But a group of intrepid postmen are now giving up their holidays to embark on a 102-mile trek to support the local hospice.

With a support driver in tow, the "plodding posties" from the Royal Mail delivery office in Godstone Road, Caterham, aim to complete the hilly Cotswolds Way National Trail in five days.

They hope to raise at least £10,000 for St Catherine's Hospice in Crawley, which runs a day care centre in Foxon Lane, Caterham, for terminally-ill residents.

One of the organisers, Dave Simmonds' own father, Fred, died of bowel cancer.

Dave, 54, whose postal round covers businesses across Caterham Valley and Caterham on the Hill, said: "The care he received in the hospice was fantastic. My dad was very upset when he was told it was terminal, not least because he could never take a holiday again.

"But the hospice staff were marvellous in making his last days more like a holiday.

"They gave him a larger room, gave him treats including baking him a cake, and let my mum stay there with him."

So far the posties have been pledged £330 towards their target, but there is a long way to go until the walk, which will take place in September.

In the meantime they will be going door-to-door throughout the town, delivering 12,000 leaflets to promote their sponsored trek.

The other walkers preparing for September's slog are: Paul Jackson, 41, who delivers in the Chaldon Road area; Michael Lane, 43, whose round serves the Blanchmans Road area of Warlingham; and Phil Ockham, 29, who is a driver/postman serving Caterham on the Hill.

David Warren, 41, whose postal round covers Caterham's Harestone area, will be the support driver in a post van, carrying vital supplies.

He said: "We might cover about six miles each day in our jobs, so this latest sponsored walk should be a real challenge.

"We are staying at Stratford-upon-Avon for the duration of the walk, so I will ferry them there and back and carry essential supplies such as food and medical equipment."

In September 2009 Dave, Paul and Michael – together with former colleagues Kevin Taylor and Nick Mortimer – raised £12,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

They overcame blisters, aches and pains to complete a 120-mile slog along the Thames Path from Oxford to Tower Bridge.

Visit http://www.justgiving.com/ThePloddingPosties" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; to find out more and to sponsor them.

[DGP1]

Only 398 to go

[stokes11eg]

Tremendous effort by the guys--well done, and thanks you to all! Having had the help of Marie Curie, during my Dads long battle with cancer, it would not have been possible to nurse him at home without their help!

[Straight4ward]

102 mile trek?

I thought this was going to be a story about his new walk following the office revision.