Two friends from Sturminster Newton who fostered a love of walking after taking up exercise during lockdown in a bid to lose weight are turning their new-found passion into raising money for a charity close to their hearts.

Jo Waite, a carer, and Robyn Strange, who works at Sturminster Newton High School, are appealing to readers to sponsor them on a Memory Walk on March 20 in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society.

Jo said: “I’m doing this in memory of a very special lady who had dementia. I loved every second I spent with her. She was full of wit, humour and fun. I care for clients with this awful disease. I see the happy days and the sad days and sadly, the way this disease can cause such rapid declines in the ones we love.”

Come rain, shine or the bitter cold, Jo and Robyn walk together every day, clocking up some 70 miles each week. Jo said: “Although we are both very busy with our work and families, this is the first time we have taken aerobic exercise before. We are walking every single day and love it, we take our little ones on a three or four mile walk a few times a week.”

And the pair have lost a stone in weight each in the five weeks they have been walking daily in training for the challenge.

Jo added: “Please help me raise some money for this wonderful charity. Let’s take on dementia together. Just Giving will send your money directly to the charity.”

If you would like to sponsor Jo and Robyn on their Memory Walk on March 20, please go to justgiving.com/campaign/memorywalk2021.

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