In the photo L to R: Kathy, Barbara, Carol, Penny & Mia walking for the PMRGCA Orpington Support Group!

23 July 2025

Over the past 8 days, Kathy, Bob, Carol, Marianne, and Penny have been absolutely pounding the pavements (and paths!) across Cornwall, Kent, London, and Surrey, bagging an extra 33 miles for our Walk a Marathon total!

'The models at the Versace exhibition walking too!'

14 July 2025 - In the last week ...

Our Supporters Are Stepping Up!

Get ready to be inspired! Our incredible supporters have been busy putting one foot in front of the other, all to make a difference for PMRGCAuk.

First up, Carol laced up her walking shoes on Sunday and, joined by her daughter, conquered a brilliant 3-mile walk right in her local area! She told us it was wonderfully cool and she loved seeing all the dog walkers out and about. A massive thank you to Carol for her dedication – every mile truly makes a difference!

A Paws-itively Perfect Hike on Friday - Kathy and Bob, joined by Peter, June, and their furry companions Big Ted and Little Ted, enjoyed a five-mile adventure in High Elms Country Park!

Then we have Penny, who took on Cambridge on Thursday! She walked a fantastic 6 miles around the city, wisely stopping four times in various cafes for pots of tea and glasses of water to cool down in temperatures soaring up to 30 degrees. She forgot the photo. Good thing she didn't wait for Friday, when the mercury hit a scorching 32!

And let's hear it for Marianne! She and a friend enjoyed a lovely mile-long stroll along the river at Richmond to a charming cafe in some gardens. Not stopping there, she also embarked on a shopping expedition, walking the full length of three high streets for a total of 3 miles! She rounded off her week by walking another 2 miles around Beddington Park.

A huge shout-out to Carol, Penny, and Marianne! Your dedication, mile after mile, is truly making a difference for PMRGCAuk. Thank you for being such amazing supporters!

5 July 2025

A trip to the RA Summer Exhibition and Penny has added another 4 miles

4 July 2025

Another 14250 steps (5.2 miles) for lovely walk by Bob, Kathy and friends accompanied by Big Ted and Little Ted.

3 July 2025

A massive thank you to everyone for your incredible good wishes and generous donations – we truly appreciate every bit of it!

Get ready to cheer on our walkers! Bob, Carol, and Teddy are hitting the trails again this Friday at High Elms with friends. Meanwhile, Marianne is gearing up to kick off the first leg of her walking challenge soon in the Forestdale area.

As a group, we're planning our next adventure for sometime next week, likely exploring the beautiful Biggin Hill or Bromley/Hayes areas.

Stay tuned for more updates on our walking journeys!

2 July 2025

What a start to our "Marathon in a Month" challenge! Bob kicked things off leading our walk from the Green Roof Cafe at High Elms Country Park. We ventured deep into the woods, and despite the scorching heat, the tree canopy provided welcome shade almost the entire way. Uphill stretches were a bit of a grind, but downhill? Much smoother sailing!

We had a fantastic crew join us: Barbara, who has just found our group and bravely tackled the walk with PMR; Bob and Kathy's delightful grandchildren; and Teddy, the energetic Goldendoodle. We won't be counting Teddy's mileage – he probably covered four times the distance we did!

Bob was behind the camera, with Fin assisting, so they're not in our inaugural photo... but we'll make sure they're front and center next time!

By the time I got home, my step counter read a respectable 9,288 steps, roughly 4 miles. Multiply that by seven, and that's 28 miles! Together, we've already completed our first marathon!

Next up: Planning our next adventure! Where should we explore for our next leg?

June 2025

We're walking a marathon this July to raise vital funds for PMRGCAuk. This is the only UK charity dedicated to Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) and Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA).

PMR and GCA are serious conditions; GCA can even lead to sudden blindness or stroke without quick treatment. PMRGCAuk's work is crucial, providing information, support, and raising awareness for faster diagnosis and treatment.

Every step we take will help PMRGCAuk continue their invaluable work.