Redlingfield resident Tony Rose-Freitas, along with friends Steven Capps, Robert Griffiths, and John Chapman have completed their fundraising walk along the Suffolk Costal Path from Lowestoft to Aldeburgh. In the process raising more than double their original £1,000 target.
Redlingfield is raising funds to convert two acres of farmland in to a recreation and wildlife amenity for the village, adding it to the existing three quarter acre Doorstep Green that villagers created in 2006.
Tony and his friends carried out their walk on Sunday 21st October, a number of venues along the way were kind enough to supply the walkers with refreshments, The Sailors Home at Kessingland, Southwold Pier, the Beach Café at Dunwich and The Brudenell Hotel at Aldeburgh, who also sponsored their T-shirts.
Tony Rose-Freitas said: “We had a wonderful day for it, bright and sunny, if anything it was a little too warm. It was harder than we thought it would be but well worth it, we are really pleased that we raised so much”
“Along the way people were great. At our first stop at the Sailors Home in Kessingland, we were delighted to find that the regulars had raised £300 for us. Which was a great surprise and very generous.”
Parish Clerk Janet Norman-Philips said: “We are really delighted that Tony and his friends have done so well. It’s a real boost for the project. We are just full of admiration for his tenacity and want to thank everyone involved and everyone who has donated to this project”.
“What we didn’t realise back when we created it, was just how popular the Doorstep Green was going to be nor that it was far too small. Over the past few years we raised £27,000 to buy an additional two acres of agricultural land to extend the Doorstep Green.”
“Our immediate goal is to create highway access and parking along with fencing the site and planting native hedging and areas of wildlife meadow. However the costs involved are far greater than we had hoped and the £10,000 we have to do this initial work simply isn’t enough, we need to raise a further £10,000 to get it finished. Tony’s walk has really helped a lot.”
You can read more about the walk and the route they took here.
Pictured: Tony Rose-Freitas with his daughters Samantha Rose & Freya Rose and Marley their dog outside the Brudenell Hotel in Aldebugh having completed his fundraising walk from Lowestoft. The four weary walkers Steven Capps, Robert Griffiths, John Chapman and Tony Rose-Freitas at the Brudenell Hotel in Aldebugh having walked from Lowestoft.