A brave Royal Mail postman from Burnham-On-Sea is today (Friday) setting off on an emotional fundraising walk from Edinburgh to London to help a charity close to his heart.
Mark Penfold’s walk will raise money for the Lily Foundation, a charity extra special to him since his grandson, 18-month-old Frankie, suffers from the life-limiting Mitochondrial Disease, which affects the central nervous system and has no known cure.
Mark will launch his massive walk from a delivery office in Edinburgh, and will be cheered on by colleagues as he attempts to walk around 500 miles of what was the London to Edinburgh postal route – one of the oldest postal routes in the UK.
All funds Mark raises, up to a maximum of £20,000, will also be matched by Royal Mail as part of Royal Mail’s celebration of 500 years of the postal service.
The Burnham-On-Sea postie aims to finish by crossing Tower Bridge on 18th June, finishing at the Guild Hall in London, where he will join Royal Mail’s 500 year celebrations in the Capital.
Mark, who aims to walk around 20 miles a day, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I am privileged to be following in the footsteps of ancient postal carriers to mark 500 years of the postal service. I am also trying to raise money for a cause close to my heart.”
“Thinking of Frankie will spur me on to the finish line in London on 18th June 2016. I can’t thank Royal Mail, my colleagues and the CWU enough, for the first class help, support and organisation it has taken to get me to the start today.”
“I am looking forward to seeing many other fellow postmen and women on my route, as well as Lily Foundation supporters.”
Mark, 50, will be supported by family, friends and colleagues throughout the walk, and the Royal Mail and Communications Workers Union (CWU) will be providing all support and supplies.
The Lily Foundation funds research to improve diagnosis and increase treatment options for Mitochondrial Disease, and ultimately find a cure. The charity also raises much needed awareness of the condition and support families affected by Mitochondrial Disease.
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Click here to find out how to make donations towards Mark’s fundraising
