Ray makes it to John O'Groats after 874-mile virtual walk challenge
His walk from Land's End to John O'Groats may have been done virtually, but the sense of achievement was very real for Ray Rookyard as he posed for a photo at the end-of-the-road signpost after completing an 874-mile challenge.
Ray had always wanted to make the trip from Land's End to John O'Groats on foot but was unable to do so because of work and family commitments. The coronavirus lockdown gave him the time – but the travel restrictions meant a long-distance journey was not an option, so he came up with a plan to embark on a virtual walk instead.
Ray (70), who lives in Suffolk with his wife Hayley, began his challenge on March 18 and finished it on July 21. Initially he was allowed to walk only an hour a day but, as restrictions eased, he managed to cover 60 miles a week.
Once he had completed the requisite number of miles, his son and daughter, Jason and Rebecca, decided to drive their dad all the way to Groats to get his photo taken beside the landmark sign.
"I didn't expect them to do that but I was pleased to stand by the sign and I felt a sense of achievement," said Ray, who travels north of the border regularly and has been in John O'Groats before. He is a keen mountaineer and comes to Scotland about four times a year.
After completing the 874-mile trek, he decided to do another 126 miles to take his total walk to 1000 miles with the aim of raising £1000 for Cancer Research UK.
His father Charles died from the disease in 2011, at the age of 89. His sister Jean was diagnosed 12 years ago and is in remission.
Ray was a police officer for 25 years and still works as a part-time driving instructor.
While in Caithness he, Jason and Rebecca were accommodated at Tanya Sutherland's Thurso Bay Holidays.
"I thought it was lovely that Ray's son and daughter drove their dad all the way to John O'Groats to get his photo taken by the sign," Tanya said. "It was a nice gesture in what has been a horrible time with the shutdown. I was touched by it."
Ray has now completed his 1000-mile virtual walk. Donations can be made on his fundraising page at https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/1000-miles-with-a-1000-smiles
