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Hilary Robinson

October Dog Walking Challenge 2025

Help me reach my goal of £200

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66
mi

I'm taking on the October Dog Walking Challenge for Uncle Ted

I’m walking 75 miles with my dog, Quinn, this October and raising funds for families affected by dementia. On a personal level, my brilliant Uncle Ted has dementia. It's stolen him from my aunt, my cousins and the rest of us family piece by piece. It's unfair and rubbish so I'd like to raise funds to help fund research and support for those living with dementia and their loved ones. 

Locally in Dartford, you might know him as Mr Essex, the science teacher, or Ted the Scout leader. To me, he was an extra father figure. He was solid ground when things felt uncertain, and absolute guaranteed silliness when needed. So me and Quinn will be walking our autumnal butts off this October, with Uncle Ted and my aunty and cousins in mind; and I'd appreciate anything you have to spare. 

And if you don't have anything to donate, please think about signing up to get involved with research - find out more here: https://www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk/ 

Thank you!

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£419 + £102.25 GiftAid

My Goal

£200

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My Updates

Plodding along

Thursday 30th Oct
The 75 by tomorrow is a definite no now, but by next Friday (my new deadline to reflect our wipeout days), we're going to do it! Me, the dog and the kids were out at the local country park before 9am today. It might only have been a mile or so thanks to little legs apparently being 'soooooo tiiiiiired', but every little counts! 

Feeling disappointed

Monday 27th Oct
So it's day 27 and honestly, I'm not sure I'm going to fit 25 miles into the next 4-5 days. I've tried really hard but with a few legitimate reasons (a child with a broken arm and the childcare juggle associated with that; as well as a dog who thinks he can fly to catch squirrels and has therefore injured me!) as well as the inevitable willpower struggle days, it's just not happening. I'm still going to do as much as I can this week, but I may unofficially extend until Friday 7th Nov to get to the golden 75 miles. I'm so grateful to everyone who's sponsored us, and so sorry I probably won't quite make the cut. 

What I can say is that the money raised will do so much good for people living with dementia and their families. And Quinn's bandana has started a good few conversations with fellow dog walkers and locals to raise awareness. So thank you from the bottom of my heart and here's to doing the best we can this coming week :-) 

Starting conversations

Wednesday 15th Oct
As I said last week, Quinn's Dementia UK bandana has been a good conversation starter with fellow dog walkers. At the weekend, I was a bit overwhelmed when a local dog owner we see regularly, but don't know well, stopped us to hand over a donation. I'm so very grateful - thank you, to Fudge (the dog's) mum. Photo of Quinn after today's walk, for no reason except he's cute!

A mental health walk with friends

Wednesday 15th Oct
This morning, Quinn went out with his best friend Ollie (they don't know they're best friends, we've all just decided) for a nice long walk across our local country park. Ollie's mum, my very good friend, came too. There's something about getting out, away from the kids, work, home and just chatting away for an hour or so. For various reasons we've both got a lot going on and being entertained by the dogs while offloading to a good friend does wonders. The dogs may have barked at random friends, stopped far too often to sniff / poo, and generally been four-legged lovable menaces, but I'd do it again tomorrow in a heartbeat. 

9 days of walking

Thursday 9th Oct
I know, I know, I'm still behind on my miles, (if we go by 75/31) but you know what? I'll get there. According to my calculations and my inconsistently reliable phone, (my Fitbit has chosen now to give up the ghost so I'm hoping for a new one for my birthday next week!), I'm at about 18 miles now - only 4 or so miles behind. I can claim that back, Quinn assures me we can do it. 

We did a very respectable 2.4 miles today so here's yet another photo of Quinn and some autumn leaves. I'll never get bored of this season. 

On a more important note, over the last couple of days while out and about with Quinn, I've had more conversations with people about dementia and why Quinn and I are undertaking this October challenge. So the bandana is definitely serving its purpose. Important stuff. 

George and Quinn 6-10-25 (2)

Monday 6th Oct

George and Quinn 6-10-25

Monday 6th Oct

George and Quinn doing their thing!

Monday 6th Oct
Me and my cousin, Sarah, are both completing this challenge because of my uncle Ted - Sarah's brilliant dad. 

With that in mind, we finally got together with our dogs for a joint walk today. The boys, (George and Quinn),  hadn't met before and are both bonkers in their own ways (!), but they were absolutely wonderful together. They sniffed and enjoyed the country park fields; while me and Sarah used the time as walking therapy. I'm fortunate enough to have cousins who are also my best friends so this was a lovely way to start my week - walking and chatting with my friend-cousin. 

You can donate to Sarah's page here: Dementia UK - Sarah Gull 

Day one: 2.3 miles done!

Wednesday 1st Oct
Morning all! 

Just a quick update - Quinn and I got out for our first October walk today, and all before the school run this morning! We've knocked 2.3 miles off our 75 mile total - and enjoyed a beautiful autumnal sunrise as a bonus 

Thank you everyone for your donations, it really does mean the world 

Hilary and Quinn 

Getting ready

Monday 22nd Sep
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported and donated so far. I'm blown away.

Quinn and I are excited for October, he's been trying on his new Dementia UK bandana and we've been getting some September steps in, in preparation. Thanks again!

Thank you to my Sponsors

£50

Hilary Essex

Go smash it Quinn - oh and you too Hilary.😊

£50

Rosemary

Well done H&Q . Enjoy xxx

£33

Andrew

Well done on what you have done so far!! You've done so well!!

£33

Frances

If he could, Dad would love to be walking with you x

£20

Kim R

Good luck... keep going x

£20

Cat & Chris

Well done! 👏 and such a great cause x

£20

Frank Cotton

Well done Hilary (and Quinn)

£20

Anne And Eric Dickinson

Enjoy the walking Hilary Jo love from Uncle Eric and Auntie Anne xx

£19

Brooke Foster

Well done Hilary & Quinn (lee’s sous chef) So close to my heart too with this cruel disease taking over my Nan and my best friend losing her father to it at such a young age 💔

£19

Jaki Karaata

Well done to you . Such a good cause x

£10

Charlie Edwards

£10

Ann Cotton

£10

Georgia Bishop

❤️

£10

Sandra And Alan

Well done Hilary and Quinn

£10

Rachel Robertson

Such an amazing thing you are doing ♥️ so proud of Quinn he will definitely push you the whole way, you’ve got this me and Bray are cheering you both on xx

£10

Lisa E

Well done both of you!! xx

£10

Debbie Hawkes

Well done Hilary.? Mum mum has vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s do a cause close to my heart. Debbie (MCH House reception)

£10

Rebecca

Happiest of birthdays - good luck with your fundraiser! You’re doing a great job 💛

£10

Bethany Jameson

Youre smashing it!!

£10

The Nelson’s

Well done Hilary & Quinn!

£10

Brenda Andrews

Hey Hilary, thank you so much for supporting this great cause. Dementia has definitely touched my families lives with my Aunts. Good luck

£10

Karen Thompson

Enjoy your walks 🥰 We’ve know Ted a long time 😄 so sorry he has this disease 😟

£10

Chris Gedge

Good luck Hilary… and Quinn!!! 🐶

£5

Fudge The Dog (and His Mum!)

On behalf of Quinn's friend Fudge (and his mum) who handed me a fiver on one of our walks after we had a chat about why we were doing this challenge.