Natural England

Carol Pollock, a scheme co-ordinator for Walking the Way to Health Initiative, will reach the culmination of walking 1,100 miles from Lands End to John O’Groats on 4th September 2008. In 2007, she walked the same route in reverse.

The spur for walking the length of Britain and back again was Carol’s teenage daughter, Sophie, who sadly died of a brain tumour in February 2007.

During Sophie’s treatment at The Royal Marsden, they talked about raising money to help other children suffering from the same illness. Together, they planned a sponsored walk for when Sophie recovered. Carol kept her daughter's wish and, on what would have been Sophie's 15th birthday in April 2007, Carol began the first of her two 1,100 mile journeys. To date she has raised £48,000 for The Royal Marsden Hospital (for the Sophie Pollock fund).

“Sophie's illness made me appreciate what most of us take for granted,“ said Carol. “She was very fit and active before the tumour was diagnosed and struggled as the illness progressed. One of the last things Sophie wrote in her diary was a list of all the things she wanted to do, but couldn't. At the end, in capital letters, she had written: ‘WALK, WALK, WALK’.”

Carol committed to completing this years walk to raise awareness of the health benefits that walking creates. She is a volunteer walk leader for Walking the Way to Health, which is the largest national body promoting and setting the standards for led health walks. It is a joint initiative between Natural England and the British Heart Foundation.

Stella Goddard, Programme Manager for Walking the way to Health, said: “Inactivity is one of the biggest health challenges facing this country. Our walking schemes are a fun, free and sociable way to inspire people to get out walking. We’re delighted that Carol is taking on this challenge and helping to raise awareness of our initiative. We now support over 525 health walk groups across England and many of them have joined Carol along the way.”

A diverse programme of weekly health walks called Stroll Back the Years that use beautiful trails and paths ranging from the far west of Cornwall to the central moors has been set up by Mobilise! They're free, sociable, open to anyone and are centred around: Marazion; Penryn; Truro; St Austell; Bodmin and Bude. Mobilise! project leader, Euan Mahy, says: "It's amazing that one of the most simple forms of exercise there is can be so good for you and so easy to build into your daily routine. If you're thinking about taking part in a "Stroll Back" walk, don't hesitate. We'll look after you, make you welcome and you can go at your own pace. Get details from our website www.pedalbacktheyears.info or call us on 01209 313419."

Notes to editors:

1. Natural England
   Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. It conserves and enhances the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

2. WHI
   Walking the way to Health (WHI) is the largest national body promoting and setting the standards for led health walks. It is a joint initiative between Natural England and the British Heart Foundation.

   WHI aims to encourage people, particularly those who take little exercise, to do regular short walks in their communities. Find your nearest local health walk schemes by using the ‘walk finder’ on its web site: www.whi.org.uk/walkfinder

   WHI has helped to create 525 local health walk schemes across England and has trained over 33,000 Volunteer Walk Leaders. It supports schemes through training for walk leaders, advice on setting up a new scheme, insurance, evaluation and free leaflets to help promote walking. Since 2000, it is estimated that WHI has encouraged over a million people to walk more.

   For more information on Carol’s epic walk, visit www.whi.org.uk and click on the “Where’s Carol?” square on the top right hand corner of the screen.

3. The Royal Marsden
   All money raised through the 2007 walk was donated to The Royal Marsden Hospital. Donations can be made to the Royal Marsden (Sophie Pollock fund). Address: Royal Marsden Hospital, Fundraising Department, Downs Rd, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5PT.

4. Mobilise!
   Mobilise! is funded by the BIG Lottery Fund, Cornwall & Isles of Scilly PCT, Cornwall County Council, Cornwall District Councils, Natural England, Eden Project and Imerys.

   Mobilise! is working in every local authority area in Cornwall to encourage activity among the least physically mobile residents in some of the most deprived communities. The project seeks to involve those at highest risk from a sedentary lifestyle, such as young people and young families, those with mental health needs; those living in economically deprived areas, older people, those recovering from illness, and minority ethnic groups.

5. For more information/photos contact:
   Natural England
   Christine White, Communications Adviser on 0300 060 1302 or 07900 608017 or
   email: christine.white@naturalengland.org.uk