I am embarking on a 100 mile walk in South Africa to raise awareness of the Abbeyfield Society and to raise funds for our homes there.
The Abbeyfield Society was born from humble beginnings and is a remarkable story of one man’s vision and determination to put an end to the loneliness and neglect of London’s older citizens in the 1950’s. Abbeyfield has now grown into one of the UK’s leading charities, helping thousands of people across Britain and the world - including South Africa.

When Richard Carr-Gomm became Britain’s first male home-help in 1956, he was shocked at the isolation and loneliness of some of the older people he visited. Deciding he wanted to do much more, he resigned from the Coldstream Guards and set about doing just that, with his army pension he bought a small house in Bermondsey South London and invited two local residents who had been living alone, to join him. The first Abbeyfield house was born. Now with 500 supported sheltered houses across the UK and 200 care homes; I want to raise funds for those in our houses we have in South Africa. I have been an active volunteer for many years and I also work as a General Assistsnt at our local Abbeyfield in Falmouth in Cornwall. We rely on the goodwill and supportive volunteers, we are extremely lucky to bear witness to the good work and the achievements which are the very real reward. I will undertake to walk 100 miles in 24 hours as part of a four person team made up of our other Abbeyfield colleagues to raise awareness of isolation and loneliness of older people within South Africa as we do here in the UK and to raise the profile of our Abbeyfield houses.
We appreciate any support you can give us, all donations go to the Abbeyfield Society South Africa - please take a look at our website for more information www.abbeyfield.co.za.
Registered charity no. 200719.
Thank you from Elly