A BASINGSTOKE man is walking 1,200 miles to raise money for a charitable trust that hopes to find a cure for a muscular degenerative disease.
Popley resident Robert Kerr is walking from Canterbury to Rome to raise money for Join Our Boys, a charitable trust set up to support his nephews Archie, George and Isaac.
The 50-year-old machine operator was inspired to complete the journey by his nephews, who were diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in 2012.
Oldest brother Archie sadly died at the age of 16 on Thursday, July 7, while Robert was crossing Great St Bernard Pass in the Alps.
Robert said: “He was very poorly when I left, and I was praying hard for a miracle while I was walking but it wasn’t enough unfortunately.
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“He leaves behind two twin brothers who also have DMD.
“So obviously, I want to carry on walking to raise funds and awareness for the disease that they have got.”
Robert started his journey on May 29 and has so far completed 800 miles of the 1,200-mile journey, which has taken him through France and Switzerland.
He is currently in the north of Italy and expects to reach Rome by the middle of August.
Robert said that his favourite part of his journey so far has been traversing the Alps, saying that he thought they were “beautiful”.
Robert has a fundraising goal of €10,000 (£8,460.34) and has raised €6,158.02 (5,209.90) at time of writing.
He wanted to thank everyone who has donated, saying: “A massive to everyone who has donated so far.”
Muscular Dystrophies are a group of inherited genetic conditions that gradually cause muscles to weaken, leading to an increasing level of disability.
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Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a severe form of MD that usually affects boys in their early childhoods.
People with DMD usually only live into their 20s or 30s, and while treatment is available there is no known cure.
Join Our Boys is an Irish charitable trust set up Roscommon residents Paula and Padraic Naughton after Archie, Isaac and George were diagnosed with DMD in 2012.
The trust raises money to cover the costs of the boy’s needs, as well as fund research into MD in the hopes of finding new treatments or a possible cure.
To donate to Robert’s fundraiser, visit idonate.ie/robertkerr, or go to joinourboys.org to learn more about the trust.
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