Rudgwick family to take on 100-mile trek in memory of ‘loving’ father and husband

Julia Webb and her family along with friend Kate Wilford will be walking from Winchester Cathedral to Eastbourne, following the South Downs Way, at the beginning of next month in support of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

The family were inspired to do the walk after Julia, 49, lost her husband, Geoff, to lymphoma in November last year, aged 49.

Julia said: “It was something we thought about doing two years ago. After everything that’s happened I thought now would be the time to do it.

“We are not particularly into running but we thought this was enough of a challenge. They say it is only 100 miles but I think it’s a bit more. I think he [Geoff] would be very proud of what we are doing.”

Kate, 46, said: “He was passionate about his work, enjoyed cooking and gardening, had a wonderful sense of humour and was a loving family man, treasuring his wife and children above all else. We are walking to raise money for research to improve treatments for people like Geoff. Please support us.”

The walk will last 10 days starting on September 1 and will be spread throughout the month with different check points laid out for each stage. Julia along with her two sons, Ed and Dan, and Kate will be completing the walk and will now also be joined by friends and family on the different stages.

Julia said: “We were not expecting this response. We have about 12 coming down on the first day. We have many other friends coming down for different stages now. I would like to thank them and Kate for all the support and help I have received.”

Ed Webb, 18, will be taking part in as many as of the stages as he can before he goes off to university.

He said: “I am very excited to do it. It is a really good cause and one that is very close to us.

“I am hopping to raise as much money as I can.”

The group were originally planning to raise £1000 but have already managed to beat that total so have raised the bar and are now hoping to get £1,500 worth of donations.

To donate visit http://www.justgiving.com/JuliaWebb1