Gosport pensioner, 97, to walk 2.6 miles for NHS after suffering head injury

A PENSIONER who says he ‘owes his life’ to hospital staff is returning the favour with a fundraiser this weekend.
Maurice Owens, 97, lives onboard Old Possum in Haslar Marina. On Sunday, he will walk the 170m pier 26 times on Sunday, raising money for the NHS. 

Picture: Haslar MarinaMaurice Owens, 97, lives onboard Old Possum in Haslar Marina. On Sunday, he will walk the 170m pier 26 times on Sunday, raising money for the NHS. 

Picture: Haslar Marina
Maurice Owens, 97, lives onboard Old Possum in Haslar Marina. On Sunday, he will walk the 170m pier 26 times on Sunday, raising money for the NHS. Picture: Haslar Marina

Maurice Owens, 97, lives onboard Old Possum, a boat docked in Haslar Marina – and is a familiar face to many berth holders.

On Sunday, he will walk 2.6 miles along the jetty as part of the Virgin 2.6 challenge, which is replacing this weekend’s postponed London Marathon.

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Mr Owens is taking on the challenge to raise money for Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham, following an incident last month.

He said: ‘A month ago I had a terrible accident and split my head open.

‘I lost so much blood and was rushed up to QA Hospital for a blood transfusion.

‘I was there for nearly five days and the staff there looked after me so well – I just wanted to do something practical to say thank you.’

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Mr Owens was born in Hackney in 1922, and made cartography equipment during the Second World War.

Twenty years ago, he moved from dry land to the water, and has never looked back.

He says he is looking forward to taking on the challenge, where he’ll be walking up and down the jetty 15 times.

‘It’s really important that I show my gratitude to the people I owe my life to,’ he said.

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‘They're working so hard at the moment, and since this is such a lovely place and the weather is nice, it’s the least I can do.’

So far, Maurice has raised almost £800.

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