THE man who has organised the legendary annual Exmoor Ramble walk for nearly 30 years to raise funds for a hospice and other charities, is now facing his own battle with terminal cancer and is being cared for by the charity he has supported for so long.

Although he is unlikely to be well enough to be at this year’s 30th anniversary event, which will take place around the Brendon area on Sunday, October 4, 80-year-old retired Exmoor farmer Ivan Huxtable has instructed his sons Brian and Paul to organise the event as usual.

Last year, despite being diagnosed with terminal cancer, Ivan not only organised the 29th event, but walked the route over several days, joining more than 400 walkers and raising over £14,000 for North Devon Hospice.

Ivan Huxtable launched the Exmoor Ramble in memory of his sister, who died from leukaemia aged nine, six months after losing their father in a farming accident in 1947. More than £100,000 has been raised for CLIC Sargent and over £50,000 for North Devon Hospice, which is now caring for Ivan after all his years of dedication to the cause.

One of Exmoor’s best-known farming characters, Ivan said: “I was diagnosed with leukaemia about 15 years ago but it never caused me too many problems. I was even working full-time until a few years ago.

“Last summer I was diagnosed with bladder cancer and had two operations. Later I was told it was lymphoma, which was untreatable. They asked if I minded being referred to North Devon Hospice and I said: ‘I know them well!’”

Ivan is now being supported by Karen Moss, one of North Devon Hospice’s clinical nurse specialists, who visit patients in their own homes to help with medication and pain management.

For the full story, see this week’s West Somerset Free Press.