Salisbury shop owner walking 26 miles for Stars Appeal

Elizabeth Coombes is walking from Salisbury District Hospital to Southampton Hospital.

Author: Aaron HarperPublished 10th Sep 2023

A shop owner from Salisbury is walking 26 miles from Salisbury District Hospital to Southampton Hospital to raise money for Stars Appeal.

Elizabeth Coombes owns the Artisan Spirit and Wine Co. on Winchester Street and is being joined by a group of her friends.

On Christmas morning last year, Liz’s son, Fraser, was found unresponsive in his bed. It turned out that the teenager had a large abscess on his brain, which was found with a scan at Salisbury District Hospital (SDH).

He was blue lighted to Southampton for emergency brain surgery, which saved his life. Further surgery two weeks later, ‘transformed’ Fraser, who is now recovering well.

Liz's son (R) has recovered enough to return to playing Rugby

Both 'equally deserving' of support

Liz spoke to Greatest Hits Radio ahead of the walk, saying she wanted to raise funds for both hospitals as they’re equally deserving.

She was able to nominate a ward at each hospital to receive the funding:

“I’ve nominated the Paediatric ward at Salisbury, which the Stars Appeal will channel the funds through to, and the Children’s Neuro Ward at Southampton.

“I’m hoping the funds that both charities will get will provide equipment or fun stuff for the kids that are trapped there for weeks on end, to help them spend their time and make life there a little bit more bearable.”

'It's still a little bit daunting'

Liz told us why she chose the walk, ahead of other popular methods of fundraising.

“There’s no way I’m cutting my hair off!” she said, adding: “And I’m not brave enough to do a parachute jump.

“I do like walking and I’ve done long walks before, but not for many years.”

She said the distance meant it’s ‘still a challenge’ and ‘it’s far enough to be a little bit daunting’.

Other fundraising efforts boost total

The walk is not the only fundraising event Liz has led in her efforts to support the two hospitals.

On Saturday 2nd September, an auction was held outside the Ox Row Inn pub, which raised £4,000.

“We had the band Tramps & Amps playing. Martin, the lead singer, ran the whole auction and he was very hilarious.”

The auction has boosted the combined total raised to almost £8,000.

Liz has set up a just giving page for Salisbury and for Southampton.

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