Coast-to-coast walk to help church rebuild

A man is set to walk 200 miles across the UK to raise money towards a £1.25m project to replace Radcliffe Methodist Church.

Mr Roger Allton, chairman of the project, will start Alfred Wainwright’s coast-to-coast walk on Saturday.

The walk, which will take 20 days, is expected to raise around £2,500.

Mr Allton, 78, is an experienced runner, having completed around 45 half-marathons, including the Newark Half-marathon, and two full marathons.

However, after undergoing two minor heart operations it was suggested his latest challenge should involve something at a slower pace.

He said: “I thought I’d do something that I would love to do — the Wainwright coast-to-coast walk.

“I am hoping to raise around £2,500 but the more we can raise the better.

“I am very grateful for the support I have received.

“It is in the interests of everyone in the community and in our church congregation to get these premises built as soon as possible.”

Mr Allton, who lived in Newark for 30 years before moving to Radcliffe two years ago, will start his walk at Saint Bees Head on the west coast and will finish at Robin Hood’s Bay in the east.

He will complete the first 100 miles to Keld with the Radcliffe U3A group before continuing to Richmond with three members and the last 70 miles on his own.

He has been practising with walks in Radcliffe including a 121/2-mile walk around the village last week.

During Wainwright’s walk he will complete around 141/2 miles a day.

The appeal to replace the Methodist church and school room, which were built in the late 19th Century and are no longer fit for purpose, started in 2011.

An artist’s impression of the new centre has been drawn up and displayed to the community.

The new centre would increase the worship space by 50% and would double the space available for community use.

Around £220,000 has been secured for the project but more work is needed to secure grants and further funding.

Mr Allton hopes the project could be started by 2016.

Wainwright’s walk attracts ramblers from around the world and Mr Allton is hoping he will find company during his final stretch.

Anyone interested in joining him or donating can contact him by email at rogerallton@hotmail.co.uk.