Westbank volunteers smash 600-mile challenge across Devon

A team of staff and volunteers from Westbank Community Health and Care have gone the extra mile by walking over 600 miles in September to mark the 21st anniversary of the charity’s Health Walks programme.

The Walk for Westbank challenge, conceived by Project Lead Debbie Hutchinson, initially aimed to cover 360 miles (the equivalent of Devon’s circumference), but the team has already far surpassed that target.

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Debbie was joined at various stages by the charity’s Volunteer Health Walk leaders, highlighting the community spirit behind the initiative.

Debbie’s longest walk began at 6am from Bampton to Thorveton, covering 18.5 miles.

One of the penultimate legs took walkers from Westbank’s Healthy Living Centre in Exminster to Exeter city centre, gathering more participants along the way.

The group concluded at St. Sidwell’s Community Centre, where walkers enjoyed a celebratory cream tea.

Notably, St. Sidwell’s was the starting point of Westbank’s very first Health Walk 21 years ago.

Debbie, accompanied by her four-legged companion Aroha, said: "Every walk so far has been so different. We’ve explored Mid Devon, including Eggesford and Bow village, and walked from Starcross to Exminster to showcase our activities there. The support from our Volunteer Walk Leaders has been absolutely fantastic.

We set out to walk the circumference of Devon, which we’ve already smashed, but this challenge is also about thanking our volunteers. Without them, Westbank wouldn’t be able to run the 21 weekly walks across the county that anyone can join."

The charity’s longest-serving volunteer, Barbara Blyth, who led the first Health Walk from St. Sidwell’s in 2004, still leads a weekly group that enjoys a hot drink after the walk, a tradition the charity celebrated during the anniversary.

Despite battling foot injuries, Debbie remains committed to completing her personal challenge of covering the route of every Westbank Health Walk in Devon by the end of the month.

Fundraising efforts will also continue, with donations helping to support Westbank’s programmes.

Westbank is also encouraging members of the public to take part in their own sponsored walks throughout September.

For more information and to donate, visit Westbank’s fundraising page .