Twyford managing director walks 288 miles for Great Ormond Street

Nearly 300 miles were covered on foot by a managing director in support of Great Ormond Street Hospital – and he has put out a final call for donations.

Martin Ellis, 52, of Team Umbrella, a corporate meetings and events company based in Ruscombe Business Park, walked from Lands End in Cornwall to the hospital in London from Tuesday, June 28, to Friday, July 8.

He is urging people to support his fundraiser, which has amassed £2,200, and received a number of donations after he completed the walk.

Martin, who lives in High Street, Twyford, suffered an injury to his leg during the walk but felt it was worth it, especially with people continuing to donate even after he has finished.

He said: “I think they probably thought I wouldn’t do it.

“I would walk the coastline if it was the right cause.”

He stayed in accommodation ranging from hotels to spare rooms he found on the internet.

The head of operations at Team Umbrella, Anna Johnsson, arranged places to stay and meals for him to eat ahead of his arrival each day.

He did work for his job in the evening after he finished his day’s walk.

Martin decided against doing typical fundraising events such as marathons or sponsored swims.

He said: “I am a bad runner and an even worse swimmer.

“It is not challenging enough for me. I love walking.”

He added he ‘got lucky’ with the weather and despite picking up a possible acute stress fracture, forcing him to wear an ankle brace, Martin said it was all worth it when he arrived at the hospital, where friends and his mum were waiting.

He said: “I was hobbling along, and then I saw them and I was not hobbling anymore.

“I think we are too focused on what we haven’t got, we don’t stop to think about what we have.

“The Ormond Street kids are there through no fault of their own.”

Visit www.justgiving.com and search ‘Martins Walk’ to donate.