This is Bath -- Hundreds of men have stepped out for a fundraising walk in aid of Dorothy House. Some 260 men set out on the eight-mile route of the first ever all-male walk held by the charity. The three-hour Men's Walk, from the charity's Winsley base to the Recreation Ground in Bath, was a poignant affair for many participants who were taking part in memory of loved ones. Around 50 family and friends of popular Lizzie Dellow, who died last month, donned special Team Lizzie T-shirts with her photo on the front especially for the walk. Her husband Jamie said the care she had received from Dorothy House and the support of his family - including children Harvey and Olivia - and friends had really helped. He said: "It has been a tough week; Lizzie made special little heart keepsakes for her closest friends and family so we have been giving them out this week because Harvey has had half-term and Olivia has been home from university. "It is tough but then you see them(all the Team Lizzie supporters) and just how much Lizzie means to so many people." One of Team Lizzie's army of supporters was family friend Martin Lynch from Old Culverhaysians rugby club. "We have 50 people walking and hope to raise several thousand pounds in memory of Lizzie. "There are granddads, dads, sons and nephews taking part and the whole range of the Dellow family. "It is a sad time but a chance for us to reflect, share memories of Lizzie and support them as a family; we have all known them for 25 years. Thirty-seven-year-old David Wrigley was stepping out to give something back to the charity. He said: "I work for Polamco and my boss is really starting to push the community responsibility side of things. "I have had quite a few people who have benefitted from the help Dorothy House has given them and I thought 'Why not?' "I was pleased to get £800 in sponsorship, I've been very, very humbled by people's generosity." Father and son duo Archie and David Buxton, from Bath, were looking forward to some male bonding on the walk. "I think it is a nice father and son thing to do rather than being on the Xbox all day and also a chance to give something back." Twelve-year-old Archie said he was looking forward to the walk and the meal promised by his dad at the end. Bob White, 63, from Bath said he hoped the charity would make the walk an annual affair. "I've run the Bath Half Marathon for cancer charities but then I had to have a new hip and I can't run any more. "I'm a volunteer at the Holburne Museum and staff have sponsored me and I do hope they hold this walk every year. "I can't run but I can walk and I hope this will be the kick up the pants that I need." The army of men were spurred on by the watering holes dotted along the route – and the England v France rugby international at the end. The walk was conceived after men asked for a male version of the charity's all-women Midnight Walk. It also raised money for the Bath Rugby Community Foundation.
Reported by This is 14 hours ago.
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