THE Bearslake Inn with stunning views up to Dartmoor provided the perfect setting to start this year’s eighth Leafy Lanes sponsored walk in aid of POOCH (Plymouth Oncology Outpatients and Chemotherapy).

Over 200 walkers headed off in glorious weather to walk some of Devon’s finest countryside on Sunday.

The day began with speeches by POOCH co-founder David Hocking, special guest Wendy Box of Winchester and this year’s official starter eight-year-old Tabitha Thom of Whitestone near Exeter, who set everyone on their way with a triumphant ‘ready, steady, go’.

The walkers wound their way along tracks and paths on their chosen three or six mile routes. With hedges abundant in wildflowers and the cuckoo on the moor this was Devon at its best. At the halfway point walkers stopped to enjoy cakes which raised nearly £200.

David Hocking, a former cancer sufferer said: ‘Cancer has been in the news a lot recently with the passing of Terry Wogan, Victoria Wood and one of Devon’s greatest characters — the lovely Tony Beard. Farmer Fred Penwill of Cholwell Farm, Mary Tavy also lost his life to cancer. He had the brownest right arm in the country as he was always leaning out of his Land Rover window having stopped to have a yarn and do a bit of tongue flapping with someone.

‘Characters like Fred and Tony are so very hard to replace and it is why so many support the Leafy Lanes walk and the work POOCH does to raise funds for the Oncology Centre at Derriford Hospital.’

So far POOCH has raised over £20,000 from the eight walks, something of which Mr Hocking is very proud.

David added: ‘A special mention has to go to seven-year-old Alex Ford of Bridestowe who has raised a staggering £615 in support of his grandmother Carol Ashton.’ (Mrs Ashton is currently being treated at the oncology unit at Derriford.)

‘The day was a complete success raising £1,600 on the day including generous donations from sponsors,’ he said.

‘We are once again on target for £3,000 once all the sponsorship and donations come in.’

You can contact David Hocking on 07899916959, email [email protected] or write to him at Eastdown, Lydford, Okehampton EX20 4BP if you would like to help organise an event for POOCH.