Four Day Fundraising Walk In Memory Of Popular Islander, Roy Denham

Scores of walkers will tackle the Isle of Wight Coastal Path over four days, in memory of Islander Roy Denham and to raise money for Mountbatten Isle of Wight.

The Island Coastal Charity Walk challenge will see them set off from The Painters Arms in Cowes on Thursday, 4 September.

Averaging around twenty miles a day, they hope to reach Totland that night. They will then tackle three more legs (Totland to Blackgang, Blackgang to Bembridge, Bembridge to Cowes), arriving back in Cowes on the evening of Sunday, 7 September. In total, they will cover around 65 miles.

“I’ve known Roy from a young age,” says walk organiser and best friend, Fred White.

“We lived together in the 80s. We played football together, we partied together. He was a great guy.”

Together, the friends completed two half-marathons and Fred says Roy would have embraced the walk because 'he was always up for a challenge'.

Fred says:

“I’ve always wanted to walk the coastal path. A dozen or so of us are trying to do the whole lot. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to it. I hope my knee holds out! I am most looking forward to legs two and three — they will be very scenic.”

Roy was cared for by Mountbatten Isle of Wight, after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

In his memory, the walkers are planning to start their challenge wearing the charity’s signature sunflower yellow.