So
on the 11th
July, Pete and I set out
for London to do a
practice run.
I’m so
glad we did as we soon
found that one of the
bridges, where we had
stopped in 2007 for
drinks and sandwiches,
was the one where the
memories flooded back in
like an old cine film. I
ran across the bridge to
try and stop the hurt.
Armed
with our knowledge we
decided that we would
attempt
the walk itself.
Sunday 18th
July 2010 was a sunny
blustery morning as
myself and my husband,
our best friends and
Rich’s girlfriend Amy
and her friend Joanne,
set out for the drive to
London. We had our
badges of Rich pinned
safely to our t-shirts
and we were going to do
this.
This time
we knew how everyone
else felt but armed with
balloons, dark glasses
and loads of tissues we
were going to do this.
That bridge came and
again I ran across it
but we all managed to
complete the walk.
Seeing
Alison Cox afterwards
and chatting helped, as
in 2007 Rich’ had
attended a CRY meeting
as a youngster with a
heart condition.
Speaking with her has
given me the courage to
write this, in that if
anyone ever finds
themselves in the same
position as having
walked the walk with
their young person and
then finds themselves in
that ‘elite club’ of
having to walk in memory
of, then we found that
it did help to complete
a trial run of the walk
at your own pace.
You
remain completely
anonymous which helps
when you find your
‘moments’. It is a way
that we may always walk
in the future.
I am so
glad that we walked and
without the love and
support of everyone on
our team I don’t know
that we could have done
it at all. We
ended the day with a
meal and a glass of wine
in the pub for Rich’.
With
Rich’, in 2007, we
completed the walk in 5
hours. I am so proud of
him for managing to do
this.
Love you
always Rich’.
Mum xxx
