Ruby Bone and Bria Bone, two 15 year old Test Valley School pupils from Abbotts Ann near Andover completed a Marathon Walk on Saturday 20th March one month to the day after their Grandmother known as Baba, passed away having suffered with dementia for several years.
As part of the series of Memory Walks organised by the Alzheimer’s Society, Ruby and Bria plotted the 26.2 mile route to capture as many of their Baba’s favourite places as possible. No mean feet given that Baba, Diane Bone, had lived in the area for all of her life. The route took them into town passing sports grounds and places of work, before heading out through Clatford where Diane was born.
Back into town they strode, and then Penton was next on route as they passed the saw mills where Diane worked in accounts, before heading through Weyhill and in to Amport. This village was Diane’s home for over 50 years, and the girls walked passed the church, the school and the cricket pitch, then then headed home to Abbotts Ann, passed the church where Diane was christened and married.
All in all, the route took nearly 12 hours, but with the tremendous support they received from friends and family along the way, Ruby and Bria crossed the line just before 6pm on Saturday, with broad smiles, and having raised nearly £2000 for the Alzheimer’s Society.
The girls told Andover Radio “We did this walk to raise money and awareness for the Alzheimer Society, we are so overwhelmed by the amount of money we raised. It was tough walking the 26.2 miles and we still have the blisters to prove it!
“It was lovely visiting the church where she got married and the house where she was born. We also visited Amport cricket club where she enjoyed watching the whole family play cricket.”
For more details, or to sponsor Bria and Ruby, please visit www.justgiving.com/team/marathonofmemories
