Two men and their wheelbarrows walk for cancer charity

By Bejay Browne

A unique, quirky charity initiative will see two men and their wheelbarrows walk from Paphos to Limassol and back in a bid to raise as much cash as possible for a local charity.

Kevin Foster and Mark Smith – ‘Two boys and their barrows’ – are raising funds for the Cancer Patients Support Group Paphos (CPSG). They will walk the 70 or so kilometres along the scenic coastal route – the B6 – also known as the old Limassol road. It runs through seven villages and part of the British base.

“We would like to raise 10,000 euros for this great charity and we wanted to do something different to stand out,” said Foster, who is in his 60s.

Laurence Doughty, a friend, offered to coordinate the event as he has undertaken a number of fundraisers before. As well as his job as a tree surgeon, Doughty is also a member of the Paphos Zingers, an amateur singing group that have raised thousands for charity, in particular, the Paphos CPSG. Foster’s wife Maria is also a member of the Zingers.

Foster said he ‘used to be quite fit’ as he was a boxer and played football in the past and both he and business partner Smith have been training ahead of the event.

“We both know people who have had cancer and have met so many brave people coping with this disease, we wanted to give something back.”

The CPSG help to provide numerous services for cancer patients and their families including free home care nursing – similar to Macmillan nurses in the UK – psychosocial support, travel to the oncology centre in Nicosia, volunteers and a free helpline.

The two men operate a gardening business together, hence the idea for the wheelbarrows, he said.

Doughty said that the British bases have been ‘brilliant’ and have offered to escort the fundraisers if they wish; also personnel from the bases will be joining the walk, to raise money for their own chosen charities.

He said that a military band will welcome the walkers as they arrive at the base.

“We are just organising this now, along with bag piper to escort us for the last few yards into Limassol.”

Doughty explained that members of the public are also being invited to join the fundraising pair along the route, not only to cheer them on at certain spots but also to walk with them, for the entire distance or as much or as little as can be managed, to raise funds for chosen charities.

“People can walk as far as they like and raise money for a charity. Sponsorship forms are available from both me and Kevin,” he said.

As the pair start off from Kouklia in Paphos on June 14 at 9am, radio station Rock FM will broadcast live, the Zingers will perform and a bagpiper will also play.

The duo will then make their way to Paramali and on day two they will walk with their wheelbarrows, to Limassol Marina; day three they will make the return journey to Paramali and on day four they will arrive back at Kouklia in Paphos.

They will be also staying overnight at various spots in a luxury VW camper van, courtesy of GMC Motors.

However, the event hasn’t gone without a hitch as Doughty has just been informed by the Nicosia police headquarters that the fundraisers will not be permitted to collect cash along the way, either in their wheel barrows or buckets. However, the support vehicles will have sponsorship forms available which can be filled in and pledges made, he said.

“The idea is that they will walk around 23 km a day and on the way back, when they reach Aphrodite Hills, they will be escorted by members of the Paphos Bikers Club,” he said.

A welcome party will then be held in Kouklia square at around 3pm with live music from band Breeze.

For sponsorship forms: Laurence 99974679 or Kevin 96056176