Eighty two year-old David Levin has raised £ £1784.34 by taking on a ‘walkie talkie’ challenge for the Hospice.

Following the death of his friends Harry Petersen and John Scotland, David decided to set himself a fundraising challenge of walking 82 miles over 10 consecutive days to mark his 82nd birthday in March.

"How wonderful to have a place like Strathcarron when you cannot walk any further alone."

The challenge involved him walking regularly around Linlithgow Loch dressed in a Strathcarron Hospice t-shirt where he set out to strike up a conversation with as many people as he could along the way and ask “what matters to you?”.

David, who lives in Deane Court, Bo’ness, said: “Life is our longest walk. How wonderful to have a place like Strathcarron when you cannot walk any further alone.

“I am aware of the wonderful work of the Hospice and wanted to do something to help. Strathcarron had looked after my friends so well in their last few weeks of life – it made life bearable for them. Staff always ask the patients “what matters to you?” so I thought it would be nice to ask people I met along the way what mattered to them.

“Many people had connections to Strathcarron and it was always a talking point and people showed huge enthusiasm for the Hospice and its work. It has been nice to hear people’s stories.”

David has put his stamina to complete the arduous challenge down to his life time of fitness activities, despite latterly suffering from peripheral neuropathy.

He added: “I was a sportsman all my life and played football until I was 43. I play golf and enjoy being outdoors, meeting people and getting exercise. As you age, you need to do all you can to keep moving some way, somehow."

“The condition I have can make me very breathless so it can make things tricky, but the more I move the better it gets. I have a very determined spirit!”

David has not been put off by the challenge and aims to take on 83 miles for his next birthday goal!

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You can donate to David’s fundraising here: David Levin is fundraising for Strathcarron Hospice

You can read David’s blog ‘The Walkie Talkie Man’ documenting his experience here: It’s that time of year again! – The Walkie-Talkie Man 

Find out more about fundraising  Fundraise for Strathcarron Hospice