A SUPERMARKET store manager has started his walk around Dorset in memory of his daughter.

As reported by the Daily Echo, Justin Kline, who manages the Weymouth Tesco store, is walking 100km around the area today and tomorrow to raise cash for Poole hospice Julia’s House.

The hospice cared for his daughter, Sophie, before she passed away earlier this year aged eight from an aggressive brain tumour found in an area of the brain stem called the pons, which controls vital functions such as breathing.

Justin’s walk is seeing him visit 33 Tesco stores in 24 hours, with each holding fundraising events in support.

He began at Ringwood Tesco Express at 6am before heading to West Moors, Ferndown and the Glenmoor Road Express store. He then visited Parley Cross Express, Kinson superstore and Northbourne Express. 

Justin said: "It’s going well. I’ve got about 30 people walking with me and there’s about 1,000 Tesco stores across the whole of the south of England raising money for Julia’s House, so we’re hoping to raise a substantial amount of money.

“It’s been phenomenal. There are guys walking with buckets where we’re allowed and people have been putting in £10 and £20 notes.

“The main work has gone on in the shops, where they’ve done displays and raffles and really got some awareness going with customers.”

Bournemouth Echo:

Justin’s timetable for the rest of Friday is:

11.35am – Moordown Express

12.10pm – Muscliffe Express

1.10pm – Bournemouth Extra, Castle Lane

2.15pm – Christchurch fuel Express

4.30pm – Highcliffe Express

6.50pm – Tuckton Express

7.20pm – Southbourne Express

7.40pm – Pokesdown Express

On Saturday, he sets off from the Fleetsbridge store at 6.30am, before visiting stores around the Poole and Bournemouth area, finishing at Herbert Avenue, Rossmore, at 5.50pm. The day will also see him visit AFC Bournemouth’s ground before the Cherries kick-off against Sunderland.

Bournemouth Echo:

His campaign began last month when the Tesco ‘chevrons’ at his store were turned gold to mark Childhood Awareness Month.

Before he set off, Justin said: “It’s time to talk about care and not just cure.

“I’m here to raise awareness of the importance of cancer care, for those children and their families who are suffering the news that the illness that’s been diagnosed is incurable.”

He added: “The reality is that there was no cure for the type of cancer Sophie suffered and so the emphasis had to be on her quality of life after she was diagnosed.

"Julia’s House helps children with life limiting illnesses and they were able to care for Sophie from inside our own home, which made all the difference.

“Their staff cared as much about making her smile as they did about relieving her pain and that’s why I’m so keen that the support they offer can be extended to other families in need.”

People will be able to pledge money to Julia’s House either by visiting one of the Tesco stores along his route or by visiting the charity’s website, juliashouse.org Justin is being joined on the walk by fellow store managers.

Julia’s House chief executive, Martin Edwards, added: “We receive one of the lowest levels of government funding of any UK hospice service, so the support from Justin and his colleagues is a huge boost to us.”