THE manager of the Hope and Anchor, Chris Roberts, has completed his barrel run for charity.
Chris carried a 50kg beer barrel, full of water so as not to waste any good beer, from the pub in Hope Cove to Thurlestone and back again, to raise money for POOCH – Plymouth Oncology, Outreach and CHemotherapy.
The bridge at the start of the South West Coast Path in Hope Cove was closed on Friday, adding half a mile to the already gruelling four-mile route. Luckily, Chris is one of the most determined people in Devon, so this did not put him off.
Neither did nearly suffering a severe spinal injury while picking up the barrel badly on the way to Thurlestone, meaning it was an empty 10kg barrel that he walked back with – a lifelong injury wasn’t quite worth it.
Chris was joined on the walk by his brother Andrew and Andrew’s girlfriend Sara Hillard, Sara’s two sons Zach and Seb, Will Rosetti, Sandra Hanel, Jack Kirby, Gen Conquest and Tom Styles. Chris’s wife Ashleigh met him in Thurlestone with his two daughters Elloé and Maia.
When he made it all the way back to the Hope and Anchor, Chris explained why he took up the challenge: ‘It’s for the few people that I know that have been affected by these same illnesses and diseases.
‘These people that I fail to comfort and support on a daily basis. These people that I have no words for, when all they want is normalcy. I fail them every day.
‘Each and every one of us are surrounded by people that just need our love and support.
‘You can donate money to my barrel carrying enterprise by searching for me on JustGiving, and that will go to the people that support cancer care in Plymouth Hospitals.
‘Equally, and just importantly, why not just take the time to look at the people around you, the people that you know and love, that need something. And that something, is what will make the difference.’
Money raised in the Hope and Anchor, the Village Inn in Thurlestone and online adds up to £440. If you would like to donate to POOCH, visit the JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/poochbarrel/