Blog No 33, The last posting. 

 I have now completed the Walk for Elizabeth from Woolwich Footbridge to the Source near Kemble, Gloucestershire. This was completed with a group of good friends who had been unable to accompany me on any of the other parts of the walk.

Michael, Hattie, Joe, Evie, and baby in push chair, also John and Jo and their dog Barney. Jen who drove me with my sister in law Vivienne, Michael and Barbara and later Dominic and Julia waited at the Thames Head pub. We were also joined at the pub by other friends, Pat and Phil, Margaret, Sue, Janet and Jan, Perry and Julie. 

 The week before we visited the pub to ask about accommodating our group and were informed that there was no space inside but that we were welcome to a seating area where there was some heating and under cover.  It was a very cold and wet day which meant that Pat and Phil left soon after we, in the walking group arrived at the Pub. Others braved it for a little longer and enjoyed hot soup and sandwiches, but it was not for the feint hearted. Michael who had been waiting at the station to pick up Dominic and Julia finally arrived and we braved it for a little longer in the cold before most of our friends who had come to celebrate had left but not before a surprise. The highlight of the lunch time event was the cake that Jen had ordered especially for the occasion. The decoration shows the Thames flowing to the source.

The Walk.

Our party walk began from Kemble Railway Station and leaving the car park we quickly found the footpath leading across the fields to the road and then across the railway line.  

We walked a stretch of the river which was totally dry, but could clearly see the course of the river by the indentation of the ground and grassy banks.

 We passed fields of sheep and meadows with trees marking their parameters. Barney was on a lead for most of the walk but I think he still enjoyed himself. The mile or so passed quickly with us as a group talking with each other, managing over the old fashioned styles, lifting a push chair over fences and gates. John did most of the navigating on his phone which was very useful. 

We followed the description of the source which was close to two Sycamore trees and soon found the granite stone marking the underground spring at the top of a slight incline, which eventually becomes the mighty Thames. What an anti-climax!!! As dry as a  bone. Not that I expected it to be very different to a previous memory but then it was soggy and muddy. 

Well it was a great day and made special with the people who came to mark the end of my walk. 

There were sections of the walk which were breathtakingly beautiful, the sun shining on the water, grasses and field crops waving in the breeze. When I began the walk the leaves on the trees were unfurling and vibrant green, as I was finishing my walk, the leaves were being crunched beneath my feet. The weather was particularly kind, only on the last walk to the source did it rain in earnest. 

There are friends and people who supported me along the way. 

Alison who acted as my press secretary, managed a lot of the online work such as setting up the Just Giving page. She also walked two sections with me, one with her friend Gae. Graham who walked four sections and also directed me to car parking and nice pubs for Jen to sit and wait for me to meet her after completing the various sections. Vickie who took me and collected me from several points in London. The third section from Putney to Kew Bridge was also special as it went through the stretch of the river loved by Elizabeth and I walked with Eve my granddaughter, her partner Lucas, Max my step-grandson, Mils, Tom and Sophie who were three of Elizabeth's closest friends.  Richard and Jackie from New Zealand whilst visiting family in the UK also managed two sections as I got closer to Abingdon.  Adrian my son from California who walked two sections whilst he was with me in the depth of the country close to Henley. Elaine walked with me the last few sections which was a great morale boost. You can see from this that I had a lot of support to encourage me to manage the walk even the sections I walked alone. I thought walking alone would bring me closer to Elizabeth, I think it helped.  Jen was a huge help as without her I could not have accessed easily the places along the Thames in the Chilterns and south Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Michael also rescued me from the walk to  Castle Eaton where I was hopelessly lost. 

I also recognise the support given by the local branch of the MND Association. Namely Lesley Ogden, Keith Bird and from the MND fundraising team, Luke Robinson. This plus the members of the Abingdon Branch who cheered me along the way.

I give thanks to all the people I know supported me plus all the people named and unnamed who donated to Elizabeth's memorial page. Elizabeth was my inspiration to undertake this walk, between  us all we were able to raise in excess of £5000. The sum is divided between MND Research and the local Abingdon branch who support the people of Oxfordshire.

 I hope that research will find a cure for people living with MND and also a means of prevention of this awful disease. I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.

Maureen Sears.