[Romantic Old Bird]

Looks like anyone who wants to spot Helen (and who knows, maybe the divine Mr Clarke) should get their walking shoes on and join Ian Botham in a good cause:

Botham beefed up for charity walk Oct 2 2003




By Sarah Cade, PA News


Cricket legend Ian Botham was today preparing for his latest charity walk to raise money for a children's hospital in Wales.

He said he was "excited" and "feeling strong" on the eve of a 210-mile, nine-day hike covering the length and breadth of the valleys of southeast Wales.

"I am feeling great at this stage. Nothing hurts at the moment, but I am sure that will change over the next nine days," said the Test Match hero.

Last Spring Botham, who said he never trains, trekked from Machynlleth to Cardiff, raising almost £1million for the Noah's Ark Appeal, which was launched in May 2000 to build a Children's Hospital for Wales in the Welsh capital.

At the time he believed it was his last walk, having covered some 6,000 miles and raised more than £5 million in total for his chosen charities.

But Botham, nicknamed Beefy, is determined to raise another £1million to equip the hospital, which is due to open for patients in early 2005.

At a news conference in Chepstow he said: "It is very exciting to see the new Children's Hospital becoming a reality.

"It will certainly be a boost, when it gets a bit painful in the valleys, to have a clear picture in mind of the new building.

"We now simply have to raise the £1.5 million needed to provide state of the art equipment for this magnificent building and we have only to the end of next year to do it."

His latest walk, which is due to start in Chepstow tomorrow morning, covers Abergavenny, Ebbw Vale, Merthyr Tydfil, Pontypridd, Caerphilly, Cwmbran and Newport.

He appealed to people in the valleys to help raise more money than they did on the first walk.

"People in the valleys threw down the gauntlet insisting they could better the cash raised on the last walk so the challenge is now on," Mr Botham said.

Some of the biggest names in Welsh sport and entertainment were due to join the cricket star on different legs of the journey.

Teenage songstress Charlotte Church, batsman Matthew Maynard, boxer Joe Calzaghe, Helen Adams of Big Brother and Jamie Shaw from One True Voice were expected to accompany Botham for the Grande Finale in Newport next week.

"Last time we had more than 2,000 walkers in Cardiff on the last two miles. It would be good to think we can beat that," Botham said.

Rugby legends Gareth Edwards and Ieuan Evans, actor Matthew Rhys and entertainer Max Boyce were also expected to take part in the fundraising walk.

Botham said he had also invited Catherine Zeta-Jones to join the trek - as she did last time - but she was busy filming.

Having 'retired' from his charity walk exploits five times already, he insisted this would be his last trek as it was becoming logistically harder with more cars on the roads.

It is understood the Welsh Assembly is currently considering plans for a second phase for the hospital to include construction of operating theatres.

Chairman of the Noah's Ark Appeal Stanley Thomas said: "Only after the success of the first and second phases would we consider building similar hospitals in north and mid Wales."



Come on Bristoleans (Busy Bee!) it's only a few short miles away for you!

I task you to join in, on 13th October I believe, with your trusty camera in one hand and your mobile in the other. Throw a sickie!

Go on, make me jealous!

............Meanwhile, if the once and future IPS is not accompanying her, a quick phone call to yours truly can have me whizzing down the A! and by his side should he become lonely within a couple of hours...........:spin2 :