A former Royal Mail postman will be walking from Birmingham to Newbury to raise money for Parkinson’s UK in April.
George Rixon will be walking along canals and rivers from the Midlands down to Newbury for his friend Susan Wynniatt, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s five and half years ago.
Ms Wynniatt worked with Mr Rixon at Royal Mail for 15 years but her symptoms meant she began to struggle with work and had to leave last January.
George Rixon getting ready to walk from Birmingham to Newbury in support of Susan WynniattGeorge Rixon getting ready to walk from Birmingham to Newbury in support of Susan Wynniatt
“I just couldn’t do it anymore,” she said.
“With Parkinson’s they always say you’ve had it years before you’re actually diagnosed and I know now that I have had it before I was diagnosed because for years I struggled with doing my job.
“Now I have got my diagnosis it all sort of falls into place.”
The Thatcham resident, who raised £1,280 for the charity when skydiving in 2021, added: “We used to work together occasionally but ever since I have left we have got quite close, we have become very good friends.
“This is just him who decided he’ll do it [raise money] off his own back, that he’d just do it on his own.
Mr Rixon will be travelling to Birmingham via train on April 23 and walking back home for the next few days before arriving into Newbury on April 28.
His fundraising page can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/susan-wynniatt2
Mrs Wynniatt has been trying to get individuals and organisations involved so that Mr Rixon has places to sleep, eat and shower on his journey.
She said: “We are just trying to raise as much money as possible.
“I am hoping they find a cure to make me better before I get old.”