Bromsgrove worker walks 20 miles to fund lifesaving surgery

Craig Jenkins who works at Baywater Healthcare on George Street completed a gruelling 20 mile walk on June 5 to raise money for a lady from Evesham who needs £350,000 to save her life.

Rachel Pighillis is 35 years old and sufferers from a combination of rare illnesses which include Basilar Invagination.

The rare condition means her skull has slipped down onto her spine compressing her brainstem.

Rachel's family need to raise the colossal amount of money to fly Rachel to New York via air ambulance where she will undergo the surgeries and treatment.

Craig, Terry and Hayley Kennett.

Craig works with Rachel's husband, Guy, so decided to take on the ambitious challenge- raising around £1,000 so far.

The 35 year old said: "It took me eight hours to complete the walk. Me and another work colleague, Hayley set off from our depot in Erdington at 1:45pm and I got to our Bromsgrove depot at 9:45pm. Hayley could not finish the whole walk but managed to walk 10 miles to Selly Oak.

"We walked through Birmingham City Centre and basically followed the A38, bringing us past Lickey Hills then to our depot in Bromsgrove."

Craig and Hayley.

Craig's boss, Terry, walked 33 miles, starting from their depot in Cannock.

Another colleague, Andy, walked the first leg from Cannock to Erdington then joined the rest of the team to finish for the last three miles in Bromsgrove.

Craig added: "We had sponsor forms for this walk as Rachel has a gofundmepage which will donate all our monies raised to.

"We also carried a bucket with us along the way and received five donations from random people including the taxi service who dropped Andy off to us in Bromsgrove."

"My feet and legs were aching by the end of it , but luckily I had no blisters. It was a long day but it was enjoyable as we knew we were doing it for an amazing cause."

So far, the fundraising campaign for Rachael has raised nearly £7,000. To donate visit Rachel's gofundme page.