REMARKABLE resident Rob Rowberry is walking from Matchborough to the Royal Orthopedic (ROH) to raise funds for the hospital where he has had seven hip replacements.
Rob, who uses a walking stick to get around, will be completing his walk to the Northfield hospital on Thursday, May 19.
He has already walked from Matchborough to Alvechurch and on Monday continued on to the Lickey Hills.
Rob, who has been arranging free coffee for anyone assisting him on his walks, decided to undertake the near 15-mile trek to say thank you to the Royal Orthopedic and its staff.
He particularly wants to pass on his gratitude to Dr Andrew Pearson, his surgeon who was oversaw most of his operations.
Rob described Andrew as a ‘brilliant man’ who helped him so much through his surgery.
He said: “Andrew was so great with me that I had to do something to repay my gratitude.”
Rob has already raised more than £1,300 for the hospital through his JustGiving account and walking around Redditch with his collection bucket.
“Just the thought that I have already raised this much money gets me very emotional.
“It was just an idea I had when lying in my hospital bed 18 months ago after my sixth hip replacement, and now a year after my seventh one, it is really happening.
“AM Print from Millsboro House have made me a very large flag to show who I am and what is happening.
“I need to be at the ROH at 2.30pm on that day as I’m booked for an X-ray so start time will be 6am.
He has also been able to raise some cash while he has been out training for the big day.
“My training had just been walking and then more walking.
“I did the steep ascent from Brockhill to Hewell Bowls club and boy it was steep towards the end, but with my collection jar in hand I managed £75 in just one afternoon.”
Rob has been updating people on his progress through his JustGiving page, where he has been telling people about raffle donations, his practice walk distances and where he was fund-raising next.
Visit justgiving.com/fundraising/robert-rowberry to donate to Rob.
