CHESTER resident Ralph Jones decided he wanted to do something different to mark his 79th birthday.
So he undertook a sponsored walk up Snowdon to raise funds for the Angela Gildea Memorial Fund which supports the Breast Care Unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Ralph, who lives in Boughton and has been a regular at The Ship Victory pub since 1945, completed the 15-mile walk in just less than 10-and-a-half hours.
He is thrilled to have raised an amazing £700 for the charity from friends, family and members at the Northgate Arena where he regularly attends the gym.
“I enjoy keeping fit, using my computer and photography, and I decided to walk up Snowdon on my birthday for several reasons.
“This was one of my late wife Bridget’s favourite walks and I wanted to support the Angela Gildea Memorial Fund. I also wanted to prove to myself that I could still do it. The last time I walked Snowdon was about five years ago,” said Ralph, whose wife died last November.
He and Bridget used to regularly enjoy walking to the waterfalls and taking their grandchildren swimming in the pools.
Ralph returned to Chester in 1976 after spending time in the Army and he then worked in the Gulf and London for several years before retiring in 1992.
Ralph and Bridget had 10 children who are all really proud of this achievement and are now looking forward to his next adventure.
“Ralph really wanted to do a parachute jump but has been told he is too old, so he is currently planning to do the 220-mile Wainwright West to East Coast Walk next April instead,” said hospital fundraising manager Janet Ratcliffe, who expressed her appreciation for his generous donation.
She added she was ‘totally inspired’ by Ralph’s energy and enthusiasm.
