'My amazing Northern Line challenge'

On 22 August our wonderful befriending volunteer Natalie walked all 32 stops of the Northern Line in memory of Joan – who she visited weekly for 2 years – and her Nan who very sadly died two days before her walk. ‘I wasn’t sure if I could go through the walk after the awful week I’d had,’ says Natalie. ‘but I know Nana Ann would just want me to get on with it!

And get on with it, she did! She started at High Barnet and walked for 23 miles – that’s 50,000 steps – passing every stop on the Northern Line on the way. Some 7 ½ hours later she arrived at Morden!

Here Natalie tells us her story:

'What a day we had! We started the walk around 9:15am and finished just before 7pm! My partner Alec who had met Joan a few times and knew my Nan wanted to do the first third of the walk with me in their memory and my friend Andy helped with the second part. With my Nan passing just two days ago my twin sister Fawn decided to come down on the day and do the last stretch with me which really helped keeping me motivated! 

'At the different stops I kept thinking about if Joan had ever been there as we would often talk about all different places in London when I would visit her! She would tell me which route to take to get to different places in London and would always talk about the places she had been and where the nearest toilets were! 

'At the end all four of us met in Morden and had a glass of bubbly and did a “Cheers!” for Joan and my Nan (whist joking about how both of them didn’t drink and what they would be saying about us having a drink in their memory). We then shared photos and memories of Joan and Ann which was really special.

'It’s was both mentally and physically hard but the memories of both these special ladies kept me going – as well as knowing that I was raising money to help the hard work this fantastic charity  Age UK Barnet does every day to support older vulnerable people.’

Here’s a photo of Natalie (below right) with her twin Fawn, holding up photos of Nana Ann and Joan and having a well deserved glass of bubbly at the end of the walk.

Thanks to everyone who has sponsored Natalie so far – she has already raised over £1,600 There is still time to sponsor Natalie. Click here for her JustGiving page.