10 hours ago
Lucie Southall: Brother vows 'never again' after 21-hour walk
A brother from Redditch has vowed "never again" after walking more than 50 miles through the night in tribute of his late sister. Ashley Southall, from Redditch, lost his 12-year-old sister Lucie when she died from leukaemia in 2013. Her family set up the Lucie Southall Leukaemia Fund a year later to raise money for charity through challenges and events. The 31-year-old completed the challenging on Saturday, walking through fields, bridleways, canals and footpaths in a mammoth 21-hour stint.
The route took him and friend from Lucie's dedicated bench in Arrow Valley Lake to Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham. The centre provides en-suite bedrooms for family members whose children are being treated at Birmingham Children's Hospital. It can accommodate up to 60 families at any one time and supports more than 6,000 in an average year. Lucie's family say it gave them a place to stay when it mattered most. In a renewed fundraising push, they are trying to raise £5,000 to sponsor two rooms for three years.
The pair set off on a warm Friday afternoon and Mr Southall said he felt okay for about 35 miles before the blisters and the cramp set claimed they also had to contend with unruly wildlife including "an angry bull and fierce swans". But he still managed to "keep his head while his body took a bettering", he added. After the challenge, though, he jokingly had one message: "Never again."
Lucie's cousin David Southall helped organise the event but was unable to take part due to an injury. The newly-qualified firefighter was advised against the challenge to avoid making his bad knee worse, but said loved ones were impressed by the effort. "Everyone that knows Ash knows that he is way out of his comfort zone but he's also not someone that will give up easily either," he said. "All family and friends are proud of both of the lads and the Lucie Southall Leukaemia Fund is grateful for all of the funds raised."
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