Family and friends rally to help man with charity fundraiser in memory of brother

Paul and Mandy Turton at Bassett Monument with a photograph of Simon (image: Paul Turton)

With help from family and friends, an RNAS Culdrose avionics supervisor has raised thousands for charity, in memory of a loved one.

[left to right: Simon, Paul and Dave Turton] (image: Paul Turton)

Paul Turton, 55, lost his younger brother, Simon, to a brain tumour ten years ago. Since then, Paul and his other brother Dave have raised money for Brain Tumour Research.

Restricted by the pandemic, Paul and his wife Mandy decided to walk from their house in Redruth to the Bassett Monument in Carn Brea and back every day in April, to mark ten years since Simon’s passing and his birthday month.

“It was just a personal challenge for us, it wasn’t going to be anything crazy, it was just a way we could remember Simon and also raise a bit of money for Brain Tumour Research.”

However, this plan was soon forced to change.

Some family step in to help [left to right: Hollye Sangster, Holly Turton, Abigail Turton, Liam Jeffery] (image: Paul Turton)

Paul said: “Unfortunately, on day three Mandy tripped and broke her knee, so that was unfortunate and Mandy was gutted that she couldn’t carry on with it.

“So I put a calling notice out there for people to take Mandy’s place and join me on the walk. I was overwhelmed and humbled with so many people who wanted to walk with me, including friends, family and ex-navy colleagues.”

T-shirts made by Paul’s band, Bobby’s Helmet, dedicated to Simon (image: Paul Turton)

He added: “It didn’t turn out to be a challenge in the end, it turned out to be a privilege, because I was privileged to have shared each day with wonderful people.”

Paul and Mandy smashed their £250 target by raising nearly £3k.

Brain Tumour Research allows anyone who raises £2,740 (the daily cost of each research centre) to add a unique tile to a “Wall of Hope” at their chosen research centre. Paul said he hopes to commemorate Simon in this way soon.

Donations can be made at the Bassett and Back JustGiving page.

Paul invited anyone who had previously taken part in the walk to return for the final day of the challenge (image: Paul Turton)