In a fine example of a Festival Challenge event, father and son duo Trevor and Ben Dimmock, Freemasons of Fenny Stratford Lodge 8985 which meets in Bletchley, completed the 100km Thames Path Challenge.
The father and son duo raised over £10,000 which will be donated towards the restoration of St Peter & St Paul Church in Cranfield and the Brain Tumour Charity.
The Challenge was a test of stamina and endurance which required many months of planning and training. The pair started walking from Putney Bridge and followed the Thames Path until the finishing line at Henley Bridge. They walked day and night passing through Cookham churchyard at 3.30am one morning.
Trevor said: “Walking through the night was particularly harrowing especially through the wooded areas in the mist alongside the Thames. There were 7 rest stops along the route to top up with drinks and snacks. Ben raised over £1,000 for the Brain Tumour Charity, and I have managed to raise £9,500 for my church restoration fund. Ben finished with blistered feet but I managed to get away with only a slightly swollen ankle!”
Ben added: “Despite miserable weather Trevor and I encouraged each other along the route and throughout the night. We are both members of the same Lodge and raising funds for good causes in this manner highlights the varied ways in which Bucks Freemasons core values of Friendship, Integrity and Charity are used to benefit the local community and underline our commitment to assisting all of the members of our community.”
It is the hope of the Festival Committee that Trevor and Ben inspire other Bucks Freemasons and their families to put their trainers on for Charity, to have fund and raise funds for the 2021 Festival Appeal.
