Bill strides out for exhausted patients

Bill Kent, third from left with some of the walkers

On Sunday, Bill, 74 (third from left), led a sponsored walk from Lewes to Clayton to raise money for people who are often too exhausted to leave their homes or even walk to the shops.

At least once a year, Bill dons his walking boots and strides out across the Downs in the sponsored event, knowing that every penny raised will help ‘reMEmber’ - the charity he runs with his wife Janice, 68.

‘reMEmber’ supports people with ME or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Sunday’s sponsorship will help to finance self-help courses and the charity’s high profile campaign for better NHS services for patients in Mid Sussex.

Always cheerful and with a willing smile, Bill was joined on Sunday’s walk by relatives of ME sufferers who were too ill themselves to take part.

Janice, an ME sufferer herself, was also unable to walk that far but she was kept busy back in the office with pressing paper-work.

The couple, who juggle their charity work with looking after their grand-children for part of the week, run ‘reMEmber’ from a small base in Hurstpierpoint and have garnered the support of some very high profile patrons, including Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames.

Outlining reMEmber’s main focus, Bill said: “We’re trying to get better services for patients in Mid Sussex - especially for children who have been referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

“We are very satisfied with the treatment they receive but it is a long way for them to travel when they are exhausted.”

Janice added: “We know that Great Ormond Street would like children to have rehabilitation in this area.

“Although there are services for children in Brighton there are no community services here in Mid Sussex and we will continue to campaign for that. We will not give up until we have achieved our goal.”

The couple would like to thank everyone for joining Sunday’s blustery walk across the Downs and come rain or shine, Bill is looking forward to another brisk walk next year. You can donate to ‘reMEmber’ via the charity’s website at: www.remembercfs.org.uk