Tom du Feu – former St. Peter Constable and Life President of St. Peter’s Football Club – walked 80 laps of St. Peter’s Football Field leading up to his milestone birthday in June.
Over a number of weeks, he completed eight laps a day – four laps in the morning and four in the afternoon.
“I wasn’t pushing it excessively… It would have been a bit more of a folly to say, ‘I’ll do all 80 in a day’. I would have been on my knees, I would have been flat on my back!” he joked.
When it came to the last two laps, “40 or 50 people” dropped by to support him and celebrate his 80th birthday – including Jack Vibert and Deputy Monty Tadier playing accordions.
Tom has always been active, having represented St. Peter’s FC in different ways since childhood, and playing in the 1955 inter-vingtaine competition.
He took on the incredible challenge despite the fact that he himself had been diagnosed from stage four prostate cancer. He said that he wanted to do something of benefit to the community, and couldn’t think of a better charity to support than Hospice.
He set out on his walking mission with an initial goal of raising £5,000 – but revealed today that he had topped this amount by another £3,000.
“I was very pleased,” he said. “I set out with a target of £5,000, so it was really nice to get a little higher because [Jersey Hospice Care] is always in requirement of monies for the costs they have week-by-week.”
He added: “I had a tremendous support from the public who were most generous in the contributions. I am most thankful for the money raised for the Hospice.”
Pictured: Tom du Feu’s involvement with St. Peter’s FC goes back many years, having been the club’s President for 34 years before being named Life President.
The former Constable said he was also particularly grateful to have the football club’s support along with its President, Peter Fleury, and all the club members, who “played a great part in ensuring that it was a successful event”.
He also gave thanks to Matthew and Carli Price, who supported the administrative side of the challenge – meaning Tom could simply focus on the walk.
Last – but certainly not least – he thanked his wife, Janice, for being a “great support all the way through”.
While it’s mere months since Tom completed his challenge, he said he is already thinking about the next one.
Pictured – top: Constable Tom was joined by friend sand family for his last laps of the pitch, after which he celebrated his 80th birthday. (Carli Price)