CHARITY fundraisers laced up their walking boots and took to the countryside for a new annual event raising money for Age UK Oxfordshire and Earth Trust.

More than 50 people took part in Walk on the Wild Side, a new joint venture between the two charities staged at Wittenham Clumps.

The sponsored 5km and 8km walks raise money for both charities, and are aimed at promoting fitness and interaction as well as encouraging people to explore the beauty spot.

Age UK Oxfordshire volunteer Sir Christopher Ball, a former world record holder as the oldest person to run 10 marathons in 10 days, opened the event on Sunday, and vowed it would grow in future years.

The former Keble College warden said: “We had 50 people this year, and we will have 250 next year.

“We had a mix of people who cared about green and Earth issues, and people who are worried about old age issues.

“For them to be meeting and talking to each other was a good thing, and there were children there who made it fun.”

The 76-year-old added “It was quite a model of how to address at least one of the biggest issues affecting older people: loneliness.

“The one thing we keep being told is to do more exercise as a way to postpone the onset of dementia.”

After a lifetime of supporting disability and youth charities, Sir Christopher became involved in Age UK Oxfordshire last year through the charity’s chief executive Paul Cann.

He said: “I did not quite grasp why older people needed charitable help, but it has been a steep learning curve.

“The three biggest issues are dementia, loneliness, and then ensuring people have the services they need.”

He said the Walk on the Wild Side project not only raised money, but showed older people how they could become more active and engaged.

All funds raised through the walk are being split between the two charities.

Earth Trust, which was renamed in March after more than 40 years as the Northmoor Trust, now owns or manages land across South Oxfordshire including Little Wittenham Wood, Wittenham Clumps, Wallingford Castle Meadows and Thrupp Lake at Radley.

Spokesman Jayne Manley said: “As a first event it was fantastic, and something we really want to build on.

“We would like it to become established in Oxfordshire’s calendar as something everybody wants to do.

“It is about getting people outdoors and celebrating the countryside however old they are, and promoting the benefits of the countryside.”