A Cumbrian man will walk 1,800 miles across the UK in memory of his late wife to raise vital funds for the MS Society.
Gary Rushworth, 64, from Barrow, lost his wife Moira in February 2020 following complications related to her multiple sclerosis.
The loving husband will walk coast to coast twice, firstly across southern Scotland and then after walking Land’s End to John O’Groats, across northern England. Gary will be stopping at many locations that hold special memories for him and Moira.
More than 130,000 people live with MS in the UK. MS damages nerves in your body and makes it harder to do everyday things, like walk, talk, eat and think. It can be relentless, painful and disabling.
The gruelling challenge will begin on April 14 in Carlisle, the place and date Gary and Moira first met. It will end on September 25 in Longtown – Moira’s place of birth and on her birthday. Other special occasions Gary will mark include:
- First date – Canonbie, April 17
- Engagement – Malham Cove, June 21
- Wedding – Holy Trinity Church, Darlington, June 19
Gary, who retired in 2014 to become Moira’s full-time carer, says: “This year is an important year for me as it will be Moira’s 60th Birthday and our 35th wedding anniversary. I very much want to achieve something for which she would be proud.
“Moira and I both had a love for walking and it was one of the first loves that MS stole from her. Ultimately, this prevented us from having the twilight years of our lives walking the paths of this beautiful country together.
“There are currently very few treatment options for people living with progressive forms of MS and this meant Moira’s condition worsened over time, leading to extended periods of time in hospital and a weakened immune system.”
Gary added: “It was heartbreaking to see her life painfully ebb away, and finally be lost far too soon. I hope that the walks will give me the opportunity to raise awareness of the needs of MS sufferers and funds for the MS Society. I want to do something that will help make it possible that what Moira suffered, and affected our family and friends, doesn’t happen to others.”
Gary will be raising money for Octopus, the world-first mega-trial for progressive MS funded by the MS Society. Octopus, so-called because of its multiple arms, is a revolutionary clinical trial that will transform the way treatments for progressive MS are tested – and could deliver desperately needed new options up to three times faster. Recruitment for the trial will begin this summer.
Mark Haymes, community fundraising lead at the MS Society, says: “We’re so grateful to Gary for his generous commitment of time and energy to take on this poignant challenge in memory of his wife, Moira.
“More than 130,000 people live with MS in the UK and there are tens of thousands with progressive forms who have nothing to stop their MS getting worse. The launch of Octopus is a crucial moment in our journey to stop MS, and funds raised from challenges like Gary’s will help to bring us one step closer to reaching that goal. We wish Gary the best of luck!”
You can follow Gary’s walk on social media at: https://www.facebook.com/WalkingforMS and https://www.instagram.com/walking_for_ms/
To sponsor Gary and help stop MS visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/walking-for-multiple-sclerosis
