Roger planning to mark 82nd birthday with round-island charity walk
An octogenarian is putting on his walking shoes again to raise money for charity.
Roger Baudains is aiming to go even further than he did last summer in his first round-island walks, by tackling the south coast cliffs first.
He started walking for charity in March 2023 following the death of his wife Ann. He said it gave him a focus and enabled him to raise funds for charities which had helped his wife.
At the end of his 25-mile walk in August he set out his intention to do another fundraiser, this time on his 82nd birthday, and so he will be tackling roughly 39 miles on 19 April.
After raising money for Carey Ward at the PEH last time, this year’s walk will be in aid of the Lungevity charity, which supports people with respiratory conditions and their families.
His goal is to raise at least £6,000 to enable the charity to buy three special respiratory devices, which can take the place of oxygen cylinders for patients who use them.
‘I think its marvellous,’ said Lungevity chairman Phil Gallienne.
Helping Mr Baudains prepare for his walk will be his trainer Mark Prevel, whose involvement with Lungevity inspired Mr Baudains to make it his chosen charity.
Training has already begun, although Mr Baudains does not always take Mr Prevel with him.
‘The other morning I did seven miles from Town to Petit Bot,’ he said.
The plan is to set off for the cliffs at about 4am.
Mr Baudains raised about £5,000 from his walk this year and he hoped to get at least enough to buy three oxygen units.
‘But you’ve got to thank the people of Guernsey,’ he said.
‘If they didn’t donate I wouldn’t do anything.’
Mr Gallienne said Lungevity has about 40 members, some of whom were joined by Mr Baudains and Mr Prevel at their Christmas afternoon tea at Les Cotils.
He said the biggest fundraiser of the year for the charity was usually a quiz event, although this year it had organised a children’s scavenger hunt at Saumarez Park and was looking to do one again in 2025.
