An 82-year-old resident at Maurice House in Broadstairs has completed a three mile challenge in his wheelchair to raise funds for the Royal British Legion home.
Graham Fearn, who served 12 years in the Royal Navy, including nine years in the submarine service, after joining up in 1957, has lived at Maurice House for just over a year.
He has used a wheelchair since an operation on his spine in 2009 which damaged nerves in his lower body.
He vowed to raise funds for ‘brilliant’ Maurice House by using his NHS chair to travel 40 times around the car parking zones at the home.
Prior to the challenge, he said: “ I have been practising for the last couple of months as I slowly get my old bones to work again.
“The course is not very long but has many humps and bumps, it is the circuit of our car parking zones.
“The camber of the road and repair surfaces do not take prisoners, so I must be at my fittest!”
Graham was supported on his challenge by staff, residents and both two legged and four legged members of neighbouring Riding for the Disabled.
Graham’s target is to raise £1,000 for Maurice House which is a British Legion home that caters for 70 elderly and frail residents who all have a history within the Armed Forces.
Find the fundraising page here
In March Graham published his first book, Poetry and Me, charting a life from wartime London, to the Isle of Scilly, running away to join the Navy, family and teaching young people in Dover borstal.
Each of the 26 poems contained is accompanied by a prologue explaining the context , meaning and events behind the verses.
Anyone interested in obtaining a copy can email [email protected]