On Saturday 20 May, the Walk of Life will return. RUHX’s flagship charity walk in support of Royal United Hospitals (RUH) Bath has grown over time to become a beautiful celebration of life, welcoming hundreds of walkers to the canal every year to make a difference and walk in memory of loved ones.
Baz Harding-Clark – Orthopaedic Practitioner in the Emergency Department, staff governor, communications lead for the LGBTQ+ network and Inclusion Champion to name a few of his roles at the RUH – is rallying a team of ED staff to step up and walk for the third time, to remember their colleagues, Kelly and Julie.
“I first took part in 2021 when my colleague asked me to sign up with her. I ached a lot afterwards, and had to work a 12 hour shift the next day, but I caught the walking bug and have been involved ever since.
“After the death of our two colleagues Julie and Kelly, a team of us signed up in 2022 to walk in their memory. We felt that this was a meaningful way to remember them both. We tied pink and purple ribbons at every mile to honour their memories – purple was Julie’s favourite colour, and pink was Kelly’s. At points along the Canal, our team were joined by members of both families, who cheered us on and joined in celebrating their lives.
“The walk was tough, but we were driven on to complete the challenge by remembering why we were taking part. We triumphantly finished and celebrated with pink cakes and champagne!
“For anyone thinking about taking part – just do it! 26.2 miles feels like a long distance and can feel daunting, but it is so worth it. It’s also not that long a feat when you’re with people – the silly chats, humour and atmosphere created from everyone knocks off the time.”
The Walk of Life is a walk for everyone, offering a 26.2 mile and 10 mile option along the scenic Kennet & Avon canal. This year also marks the launch of the Walk of Fun, a 1km accessible challenge for adults, parents and children.
RUHX is asking those taking part to raise £100, which will help the charity to give every patient extra extraordinary care and to support staff to do what they do best. RUHX is also working closely with community partners to ensure a positive future for Bath and beyond.
You can register for your Walk of Life place here