Double celebration as man proposes during charity trek

Thomas Cruxton, 29, from Stoke-on-Trent, has plenty to celebrate. Just after crossing the finish line of Alzheimer’s Society’s Trek26 in London he got down on one knee, fished a ring out of his pocket, and proposed. Fellow fundraisers were delighted when Isabel Lewis, 26, from Mold, North Wales, said ‘yes’.

Programme Manager Thomas said: “Isabel was daft enough to walk 26 miles with me. I realised that if we completed it, it would be a momentous day for us both. It’s the only marathon Isabel will ever do – so I thought I would make it even more memorable.”

The couple joined thousands of Alzheimer’s Society supporters taking on the gruelling walking challenge across London on Saturday, June 3 after witnessing the devasting impact of dementia first-hand.

Thomas lost his father to Alzheimer’s in 2015, two years he was diagnosed. Walking in memory of Thomas’ dad, the couple raised an impressive £1,752 between them and will help fund Alzheimer’s Society life-changing support services and cutting-edge research. Isabel, a hospital pharmacist, met Thomas in 2016. Through her work she regularly comes into contact with people with dementia – which inspired her to take part.

While Isabel rested her legs after crossing the finish line, Thomas, who had an engagement ring hidden in his pocket, secretly approached an Alzheimer’s Society photographer to tell him he was about to propose which meant the special moment was captured on camera.

Thomas said: “I wasn’t nervous. It’s been a matter of when, not if – we have spoken about engagement and the future. There was a video on social media of a man who proposed on one knee after completing an ironman event and he ends up cramping up and rolling around on the floor. I was nervous about that happening to me as I’m prone to cramp – but I wasn’t worried about Isabel’s answer. She had been patiently waiting for the proposal.

“We were too tired to celebrate our engagement by going out in London that evening, but we had our own celebration eating pasta bake and phoning round friends and family telling them our news. Getting everyone’s reaction was lovely. We were in pain from the walking, but we had the great feeling of having completed a marathon and the engagement took the edge off the pain.

Hannah Mayfield, Fundraising Manager at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “A huge congratulations to Thomas and Isabel – we are so excited that they got engaged during Trek26 London. It really added to the fantastic atmosphere of the event. We would like to thank Thomas, Isabel and all of our amazing fundraisers who look part in the event.

“The money raised will help Alzheimer’s Society bring help and hope to more people affected by dementia through our vital support services and ground breaking research.

“We’re calling on people from across the UK to go the distance and don their boots for a Trek26 challenge this summer. Every pound raised will help Alzheimer’s Society provide vital information and support, improve care, fund research and create lasting change for people affected by the condition.”

To sign up for an epic 13 or 26 mile trek at breath-taking locations around the UK until September, visit alzheimers.org.uk/Trek26