Earlier this year, our friend Rich passed away suddenly. He was a super-fit young man, partaking in a whole host of sporting activities including marathons, triathlons, racquet sports, etc. When he wasn't participating, he would often be helping organise events. He was a key volunteer at the Cheltenham Parkrun.

At the funeral, the co-founder of the Cheltenham Parkrun Malc Smith encouraged the gathering to be inspired by Rich's adventures: "No fuss, no pondering over whether to do it or not; let's just get on and do that thing that we want to do. Because that's how Rich would have done it." The following wake was filled with people setting themselves new challenges in their lives.

One of those personal challenges was to walk the Cotswold Way, which then soon spiralled into the idea of a group of us doing it. We'd walk it as a celebration of and tribute to Rich, have fun and raise some money for charities associated with Rich. Maybe even treat ourselves to a beer. We'd do it as a joyous occasion, as if Rich was there with us.

So that's what we're doing. We have a very loose timetable for walking this over a number of legs spread over the coming months, starting Saturday 25th August.

Rich received treatment by way of two heart surgeries at the remarkable Papworth hospital. He recovered to run several major events including the Everest marathon.

Thank you message from Steve & Jane, May 2019:

We’ve been trying very hard to think of some way we can show our appreciation to you all for letting us join you on ‘Walking the Cotswold Way for Rich’. We’ve been unable to come up with anything more original than an message to thank everyone who took part:

Darren (for NOT organising the walk but arranging the despatch of such a wonderful booklet of tributes from work)
Emma (for actually organising it)
Paul (for making sure we didn’t get left behind)
Gavin (for all the lifts)
Simon (also for sorting all Rich’s computer stuff)
Tom (also for hosting the family last May)
Emma’s dad Chris (also for the wonderful fund raising Bude open water swim)
and for all the others who helped us on our way and gave us such wonderful support (apologies if we’ve spelled your names wrongly or missed you off the list): Suzie, Stuart, Emma’s brother Olly, Richard & Blair, Nicola & Paul, Liz & Chris, Adam, Sam R, Sam H, Tom C, Liv, Ben, Tom N & Clarissa, Matt, Matt, James & Katharine, Jenny & Simon, Jennifer, Andrew, Christie, Kate & Jethro, Kate’s mum and sister, Carol, James & Joy, Stuart from Norwich, Ross, Sam, Ian.

We miss Rich in so many ways: his sense of humour, his energy, enthusiasm and persistence in seeing a task through, the discussions we used to have setting the world to rights, his patient help on the computer and the heavier tasks in the garden and on the allotment, his advice on exercise and keeping fit and just for being around.

We know we will never get over our loss. It is tragic that he died when he was enjoying his life so much - his work, his running, cycling, swimming and all the satisfaction he obviously must have had from helping others. We never realised how much he was valued at work by so many others until we met you all and that has helped to make the last year more bearable. We look forward to seeing you all again if it is possible to organise an annual walk.

We are still waiting to hear details of arrangements for the unveiling of the plaque at the Lonely Tree on Cleeve Hill on 11 May. As soon as we hear any more we will let you know.

Thank you all once again

Steve and Jane

Ps Thanks as well to Tony who was unable to join us on the walk, but is now doing an ‘Ironman for Rich’ in Lanzarote towards the end of May. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ironman4rich