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Pictures can now be seen at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/longwalkhome/
A big thanks to everyone for sponsoring us. Special thanks to The Windscreen Company (particularly Brian and Barry), Anglian Home Improvements and Bidwells.

We did it!!!!!!!!!

Despite an ominous start of 26 miles on the first day (should have only been 22 but we got lost right at the end of the day!) the Long Walk Homers successfully completed their trek from Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge back home to Ipswich a total distance of 62 miles on foot. Arriving in Christchurch Park at 12.30 pm on Monday 25 August after 3.5 days walking the team arrived safely and in fine form to a welcoming party of friends, family and the local press (check out www.eveningstar.co.uk for further info and interview!).

We were assisted brilliantly throughout the walk by our fabulous support crew and enjoyed fantastic hospitality at our overnight stops. Special thanks go to Brian and Karen Buckingham for feeding and watering us so fantastically on night 1, The Three Horsehoes, Cockfield night 2, and Amanda Clarkson, Vanessa and Tim Edwards and family for the BBQ and allowing us to pitch our tents on night 3.

Jules retired through injury half way through day 2 but then turned to being a fantastic support driver and general motivator of spirits. Everyone else including my 14 year old nephew Joshua lasted the full distance with only a few minor whinges (usually from me) and aches and pains. Blisters were the main obstacle but determination and expectation to finish drove us all on.

The route took us from Cambridge via Fulbourn, Great Wilbraham, Burrough Green, Cowlinge, Farley Green, Wickham Street, Hawkendon, Somerton, Hartest, Shimpling Street, Cockfield, Thorpe Morieux, Brettenham, Ringshall, Barking Tye, Great Blakenham, Claydon and Ipswich.

Everyone we met on route was really friendly and we can now recommend some excellent pubs (the Crown at Hartest, the pub at Hawkendon, and the Three Horsehoes at Cockfield amongst others).

In all the walk was as hard as was originally expected but was great fun also whilst achieving what we set out to do which was to raise money however small for two of the organisations that helped my wife following her accident.

Lisa continues to make brilliant progress and time and further rehabilitation will hopefully make as good a recovery as one could only imagine.

A huge thank you to everyone that has supported the walk or who has helped in any way. The walk was as hard as expected and the distances for each day were just about right.

Finally thank you to the rest of the Long Walk Home team who I couldn't have done without these are:

Walkers

Rob Holmes

Chris Holmes

Andy Midson - Holmes

Joshua Midson - Holmes

Kara Redman

Julian Bunting

Charlie Holmes

Jack Holmes

Walk Support Crew

The Windscreen Company

James Cocker

Duncan and Kerry Stewart

Amanda Clarkson

Julian Bunting

Hospitality

Brian and Karen Buckingham

Amanda Clarkson

Tim and Vanessa Edwards

The Three Horseshoes, Cockfield

Pre-Walk Help and support

Nev and Angie Bradbrook

Terry Marquand

Pat and Brian Holmes

and everyone who has sponsored us or who sought sponsorship on our behalf!

We are still in the process of collecting the off-line donations and sponship but it looks as though we should raise a total of around £3,250 to be split between East Abnglian Air Ambulance and Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust.

Thank you you all again for your generosity and support.

Best wishes

Rob Holmes

Update 17/08/08: Less than a week to go and we just about have everything sorted! Well I hope so anyway!

We have accommodation lined up for each of the three nights so thank you to everyone who has been so very kind to agree to put us all up. Lets hope that the weather is not too unkind! The first day will see us walking about 20-22 miles with the following days between 9 - 15 miles each. I must admit after the training walk of 10 miles last week the thought of getting up the following day and doing it again (even longer) does not particularly appeal but I am sure the adrenalin and the thought of wanting to make the finish will get us all through! Thanks to everyone who has supported us. Please keep donating!

Thank you for visiting our Long Walk Home fundraising page. This page is one of two dedicated to raising funds in support of some of those people to whom we will always be grateful and without whom, quite simply, Lisa would not be with us today.

Please also visit : www.justgiving.com/longwalkhome2 and decide which charity you wish to support, or even better - donate to both!

As members and friends of the Holmes family dramatically found out earlier this year you never know when you may need the emergency services!

For those who do not know of the circumstances surrounding our wish to raise funds, on Friday 22 February 2008, two days before daughter Ciara's first birthday, Lisa (a pedestrian) suffered life threatening injuries in a road traffic accident with a bus in Ipswich town centre.

The seriousness of Lisa's condition was immediately apparent and our deepest thanks firstly go out to two members of the public, Michael and Wendy, whose speed and immediate reactions at the scene to comfort Lisa, direct traffic and prevent further injury helped save Lisa's life. Thank you. We also thank anyone else who helped at the scene of the accident in any way.

Notwithstanding a warning to expect the worst it is through the skill and professionalism of the emergency services at the accident scene of Suffolk Police, Suffolk Fire Brigade, East of England Ambulance Service and the East Anglian Air Ambulance, the Doctors, Nurses and Staff of the Accident and Emergency Department at Ipswich Hospital and Crital Care Units and Wards of Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge that Lisa is still with us today.

After a total of 99 days in Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge including 8 weeks unable to walk on bed rest Lisa was discharged back home on 30 May 2008 to start rebuilding her life with the love and support of her family.

We will always be grateful to everyone who helped or who has played any part in helping during the events of the last few months and hope that Lisa's recovery will continue from strength to strength.

As a gesture of our thanks this page is targeted towards raising funds towards the East Anglian Air Ambulance who attended Lisa's accident and despite not requiring to be used for transportation provided specialist paramedic support to the land based East of England Ambulance Service personnel during the transfer from the accident scene to the Accident and Emergency Department at Ipswich Hospital.

The East Anglian Air Ambulance rely on public support to enable them to continue to offer this life saving service. If you can, please donate to this very worthy cause and help East Anglian Air Ambulance continue to provide this vital service to others in need.

If this is not incentive enough to make you part with your cash, I, along with with friends and family including my brothers Chris and Andy will be undertaking a sponsored Long Walk Home from early Friday 22 August 2008 from Cambridge back home to Ipswich, a distance of about 60-70 miles and a trip expected to take 3-4 days (we are novices!). We will be pitching tents overnight en route and aim to make it back in time for a joint celebration/belated 1st birthday picnic for our daughter Ciara in Christchurch Park, Ipswich at lunchtime on Bank Holiday Monday 25 August. Please join us in Christchurch Park if you are able (just bring your own food and drink!).

Thank you for your support. Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: East Anglian Air Ambulance gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please, if you can, sponsor those taking part in the walk or make a donation now!

Best Wishes

Rob and Lisa

Rob and Lisa Holmes's Fundraising Page

Rob and Lisa Holmes's Fundraising Page

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