Rowland Tyson walked 48 miles around the island of Jersey in 16 hours, traversing challenging terrain including sea cliffs and beaches, to raise more than £300 for Moya Cole Hospice. He was joined by friends Paul Higgins and Paul Samman for the endurance challenge, which started at 3am and finished at around 9pm.
A physical and mental challenge
Tyson described the walk as both physically and mentally tough. The route took in a mix of roads, cliffs, and long sandy beaches. One of the most demanding sections was the five-mile stretch known as 5-mile Bay, where walking on sand added an extra layer of difficulty. The heat and hilly terrain also tested the walkers.
This was not Tyson's first such challenge. He had walked around the entirety of Guernsey about 10 years ago. Comparing the two, he noted that Guernsey's route started with cliffs, while Jersey's began with roads before reaching the cliffs and beaches.
Personal motivation
Tyson chose to fundraise for Moya Cole Hospice because of the care his sister, Nicola, received there before her death. Nicola had lived in Manchester for several years before becoming ill and was eventually moved to the hospice.
“The hospice being there really helped us as a family,” Tyson said. “We're all from Guernsey so there was a lot of travelling. The hospice gave us a stable base. If she was in hospital it would have been harder as there are visitation hours but at the hospice, we were all able to visit her. My mum was able to stay with her all the time. It gave her some place to go and somewhere she could be with Nicola for a long time. Everyone there was wonderful, it helped so much in the end.”
Giving back
It was Tyson's wife who suggested that raising money for the hospice would be a fitting purpose for the walk. “It was also just nice for us to do it and it was nice for us to be able to give something back to the hospice,” he added.
About Moya Cole Hospice
Moya Cole Hospice provides holistic care to patients with life-limiting illnesses, offering inpatient care, day therapy, and supportive outpatient services from its sites at Heald Green, Stockport, and Little Hulton, Salford. The hospice also runs a range of community and outreach services, including care in patients' own homes via a Hospice at Home service in Salford and Trafford, a Community Specialist Palliative Care Team in Salford, and a homelessness palliative care service in Manchester. A 24-hour telephone advice line is available to patients, carers, and healthcare professionals in Salford, Manchester, Trafford, and Stockport.
The funds raised by Tyson and his friends will support these vital services, helping the hospice continue its work caring for patients and their families across Greater Manchester.
