The walkers will be joined by local MP Iain Stewart for the last leg of the 35-mile North Bucks Way Walk, which will end with a barbecue at the new retirement village, due to open in spring 2012.

The event is part of The ExtraCare Charitable Trust's Olympic Challenge, which aims to cover 25,000 miles (the circumference of the globe) across its 29 retirement villages and schemes before the start of the Olympic Games next year.

Village Manager Martyn Dawes, who will also be taking part, expects that about ten future residents will involved. "It's a good number," he said, adding that the uneven ground meant that some potential walkers would not be able to come.

He said that he had chosen the route, which takes two days to complete, because it could easily be broken into stages to make it easier.

"I've walked the North Bucks Way before and I thought it was a nice walk, and that the residents would enjoy it," he added.

MP Iain Stewart said he was delighted to take part in the walk to support the new development. "Shenley Wood Village will offer a range of activities which will help local older people remain independent and healthy," he said.

Picture:

Left to right: Iain Stewart MP, Sheila Gould, Brenda Ryan, Village Manager Martyn Dawes, Brian Gould, Dennis Bradley, Colin Bisacre, Brian Hobbs, and Colin Howarth prepare for the North Bucks Way Walk at Shenley Wood Village, Milton Keynes.

See more photos on Flickr.

For further information, please contact:

Lucy Henson, PR officer
0789 105 3062
lucy.henson@extracare.org.uk