Julia Regis: Cyrille got me through gruelling trek across Great Wall of China

Julia and Cyrille's daughter Michelle both took part in the tough five-day climb alongside Baggies legend Brendon Batson, forty years after Regis and Batson first visited the wall with the Albion squad.

And Julia's thoughts regularly turned to Cyrille during the hardest parts.

"The walk was difficult on a number of levels," she told the Express & Star. "I had been told you can never prepare enough for this trek and I found that to be so true.

"Every time I felt like I couldn't climb any further, I had to dig deep as Cyrille would say and remember I was doing this for him.

"It was tough emotionally too, I thought about Cyrille often and the many trips we have taken together over the years and missed him terribly but I am so thankful to have been surrounded by the most amazing group of people.

"We all supported and encouraged one another right to the very last step. I'm especially thankful to the guys that helped me make it through the challenge.

"I understand the fundraising has gone well and I'm excited that we've been able to raise funds that will further support the impacting work of the Foundation."

Batson, now 65, admitted he was surprised at how difficult the trek was, but said the group of 19 walkers rallied together over the course of the five days.

“It’s difficult to explain to people what the wall is like,” Batson said. “It wasn’t an afternoon stroll, some parts we had to go off the wall, some of its dilapidated, it’s quite treacherous.

“Sometimes the wall is crumbling, you’re walking along a single paving stone with sheer drops on one side.

“But the views, I can’t explain how wonderful they are. It’s been a privilege to be a part of this.”

One of the most inspirational walkers on the trip was Blind Dave Heeley, who tackled the tough course with his family.

“It’s incredible to see Blind Dave here,” said Batson. “Everybody has been supporting each other, people have been having injuries, aches and pains, but everyone has chipped in and helped those in need.

“People say I walked the wall 40 years ago, but all I did was stand on it. It’s harder than anybody anticipated, I didn’t think it would be as challenging as it was.

“I’ve got mixed emotions. Especially being shown photos of Cyrille here 40 years ago. But on the whole it’s been fantastic, and we’ve raised a lot of money for the Foundation thanks to generosity of supporters.”

One of the walkers, Dean Walton took a John Trewick mask to China before posing for this picture.

Forty years ago, former Albion defender Trewick famously said: "When you've seen one wall, you've seen them all" on being shown the Great Wall of China.

The final total of money raised is yet to be clocked up, but it's believed to be in the tens of thousands.