In May 2025, five friends laced up their walking boots for a six-day, 100-kilometre trek from Land’s End to Tregony—all in support of the Critical Care Unit Fund of Royal Cornwall Hospitals Charity.
The team, calling themselves ‘Cornwall My Roam’, were walking in memory of Gail Allen, wife of team member Rob “TB” Allen, who sadly passed away in January this year. The Critical Care Unit had provided extraordinary care to Gail and her family during her final days, making it a personal, heartfelt choice for the group’s fundraising efforts.
Among the team was Gary Ringrose. Talking about how the walk came about, Gary explains:
“In 2024, a small group of us decided to do a charity walk in aid of the 2nd Cornwall Air Ambulance. The group picked the start point of Cookworthy Knapp, also known as ‘The Nearly Home Trees’, and a finishing point of Tregony, our home village. The idea was to see how ‘nearly home’ the trees actually were. As it turned out, the distance was about 63 miles. We walked over a four-day period and managed to raise over £3,000 for the cause. We were all very pleased and had a great time walking together.”
Following the loss of Gail in January, the friends decided to make a similar fundraising journey, this time in aid of the team at RCHT. “The Critical Care Unit looked after Gail exceptionally well in her last few days,” Gary continues. “They helped the family through an incredibly difficult time. We knew then that we wanted to find a way to say ‘thank you’ for the incredible care and compassion they provided.”
The walk began at Land’s End on a billowy Monday morning. From here, the route followed the spectacular South West Coast Path, before heading inland via Portloe and finally reaching the home village of Tregony. Along the way, the group battled steep climbs, rocky descents, blazing sunshine—and a few detours.
Each day brought a new challenge and experiences for the group. From the scramble around Lamorna Cove on Day 1, to the sight of a sun-drenched Praa Sands and an ice cream break at Mullion, the group faced the literal highs and lows of the Cornish coastline.
“Day 4 stood out as the toughest,” Gary explains. “The heat was relentless. There were also dramatic elevation changes between The Lizard and Porthoustock. A moment of mild panic struck when walker Martin Johns fell behind and got lost, only to later reappear having unknowingly taken another path, arriving at Coverack before the rest of the group. Spirits remained high, thanks to encouraging passersby and a well-earned pint in St Keverne.”
The final stretch into Falmouth on Day 5 was a favourite of the group, featuring a ferry ride, scenic coves, and a rousing evening fundraiser at the Chainlocker pub, complete with live music and an appearance by Cornwall’s iconic beer mascot, Betty Stogs.
Saturday’s concluding leg—through the Roseland Peninsula and back to Tregony—was an emotional homecoming for the team. “After six days of walking, the team were welcomed by cheering friends, family, and supporters at the Tregony Sports and Social Club,” Gary adds. “The evening wrapped up with live music from The Moonage Day Dreamers and a well-earned celebration.”
The walkers—Gary Ringrose, Rob Allen (TB), Simon Matthews (RAV), Andy Wilson, and Martin Johns—were supported along the way by drivers Richard James, Andy Toms, and Gary Milnes. Special thanks went to sponsors Andrew Toms Car Sales, Armstrong Groundworks, The Falmouth Hotel, and numerous others who contributed accommodation, resources, and moral support.
So far, Cornwall My Roam has raised an incredible £13,500 (including Gift Aid), with donations still coming in via their JustGiving page. Daily updates and photos will be shared on their Facebook page in the coming weeks.
Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so at Cornwall My Roam is fundraising for Royal Cornwall Hospitals Charity