Little William inspires beach walk

11:23am Saturday 31st May 2008

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A COUPLE from Holt are organising a fundraising event to help the charities that played a big part in their son's recovery from a life-threatening condition.

Robert and Catherine Curtis are behind the Just A Walk To The Beach event to raise money for Jeans for Genes and The Sick Children's Trust.

The inspiration for the walk come from their son William who suffers from a genetic condition called Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome which was diagnosed when he was only five months old.

When he reached the age of 18 months, he had a bone marrow transplant to give him a future and spent more than four months in Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children.

Today he is doing very well but his parents want to raise funds for the two charities who made such a big difference to them and offered them hope during difficult times.

The challenge is to get from your doorstep to Saunton Sands in north Devon by any means possible without using an engine, to arrive on Sunday September 14.

Fundraisers must carry with them something to catch a wave and Rob estimates that it will take him three and a half days to walk the 118 miles from Holt.

Once fundraisers have arrived in north Devon, the couple are organising a 10K round walk along the Southwest Coastal Path running behind Saunton Sands.

Mrs Curtis said: "We are so grateful for the support of our families and friends during William's treatment and are very excited that so many of them want to be part of Just a walk to the beach too.

"Between them the participants will be travelling more than 2,000 miles from all over the country by foot or on bikes with their surfboards and bodyboards to arrive at Saunton Sands."

To support them and to find out more visit www.justawalktothebeach.org