FORMER Derwent Valley doctor Tony Tymms has helped to raise thousands of dollars to aid children supported by the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation and will do so again this year, but in a reduced capacity. He has lived at Longford in the Northern Midlands for about 30 years, which follows about five years as a general practitioner in the upper Derwent Valley in the 1990s.
Dr Tymms and his wife Martha have fond memories of their time at Ouse and their friends and patients from those days. For the past few years, he has organised a fundraising walkathon in the Northern Midlands each September as part of a worldwide event raising funds to help eradicate human trafficking in Vietnam.
He has been the main organiser of the walk from Longford to Launceston Airport along council paths via Perth and return. The length of the walk is up to each participant, with some walking 10km to Perth and back, or shorter routes, and others completing the 22km route to the airport and return.
Dr Tymms is unable to act as the organiser this year but will still undertake the walk on Saturday, September 12. He invites anyone wishing to join him to be at the car park at Longford Berries, 119 Bulwer St, Longford, ready for a 10am start. Afterwards, a cuppa will be provided at the Uniting Church at 3 High St, Longford. Dr Tymms can be contacted by emailing tmtymms@gmail.com and he will be able to supply a map and provide suggestions of how to do smaller sections of the walk.
“The whole aim of the walk is to exercise at your own rate and have as enjoyable a time as possible. Dogs on a leash are welcome,” he said. World-wide, the walkathon raises more than $500,000 and the local walk has raised between $8000 and $10,000 each year.
More details about this Australian charity are available at bluedragon.org. Tax-deductible donations supporting Tony Tymms’ walk can be made at bluedragonwalk.org/tony-tymms
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