'Support my Northern Line challenge!'

Our lovely befriending volunteer Natalie will be walking along the full length of the Northern Line to raise money for Age UK Barnet. She's taking the challenge in memory of Joan who she visited every week for two years before Joan died last August.

‘Joan’s death hit me hard,’ says Natalie, 'so I wanted to raise money in her memory to support the charity that brought us together. It's coming up to a year after she died so this seemed like the right time to do it.

'Joan and I clicked immediately when we were introduced through Age UK Barnet’s Befriending Service. I had no family around in London but Joan filled that gap for me and, although we had a 66-year-old age gap, we had the same sense of humour and she always brightened my day.

'I’d go around to hers for a chat one or twice a week and sometimes we’d go out to a music concert at the Ann Owens centre or take a trip to the garden centre. She even came to the school where I’m a teacher to see an exhibition of old objects such as war medals, radios and toys that the children had brought in and written about.

'It was fascinating to hear her talk about things she used to have when she was younger and wonderful to be able to introduce her to some of the little children that I look after and their parents. 

'I miss her and feel priviledged to have known her.'

Natalie's Northern Line challenge!

Natalie will do her walk on Saturday 22 August - almost a year after Joan died - when she will cover 23 miles, passing all 32 stops on the Northern Line from High Barnet to Morden. We will be catching up with Natalie throughout her training and she will let us know how things are going on the day.

If you’d like to sponsor Natalie, please donate to Natalie's JustGiving page.

All the money raised will help Age UK Barnet support older people in Barnet at a time when many are still struggling to get the food they need or are experiencing loneliness and isolation.