The Datebook datebook_autumn2019_digital_ARTWORK | Page 10

Walking The Year for
the Trussell Trust
By Paul Fredericks
is! But what’s the point of
taking on a challenge that is
easy? get out together and share the
physical and mental health
benefits of walking.
“Boots on” is not the normal
walking about we all do in our
day-to-day lives. It is lacing up
the walking boots and getting
out there. In 2018 I certainly
got out there! During the year
we travelled extensively around
Britain in our caravan with our
two Labrador dogs, so I walked
in a wide variety of places. It’s Through my blog
(twodogsandanawning.co.uk)
and social media I share details
of my individual and group
walks, this also helps increase
awareness of the key work
undertaken by the Trussell Trust
in its quest to stop UK Hunger.
By the end of 2018 I had
We three; Dexter, Crosby and ‘Fred’.
L
iving local to Salisbury I
have supported and
followed the development of
the Trussell Trust since it
was founded over twenty
years ago. It’s national
network of 1,200 food banks
are vital in supporting those
in poverty within our society.
Last year their network gave
1.6 million food bank parcels
to people, almost half of
these were for children.
Equally important is their
lobbying and campaigning to
influence government and
change social policy.
At the start of 2018 I
committed to doing more to
help this outstanding charity by
fundraising to support its aims
and also seeking to help raise
awareness. Being a keen
walker it seemed natural to
take on a walking challenge
and I came up with a plan to
walk 2,018 “boots on” miles.
2,018 miles equates to
approximately 5.5 miles per
day, for most people that’s
about two hours walking. Not
too challenging for a day, or a
week, but for a year it certainly
Winsford Hill, Exmoor National Park, West Somerset.
hard to pick a favourite
location, but I keep returning
to the Yorkshire Dales, Exmoor
and the Quantock Hills.
One of the most challenging
aspects of walking in 2018
was the long hot summer,
which meant carrying
additional water for myself and
the dogs.
Other highlights were clocking
up 120 miles of the South
Downs Way in 6 days, setting
a personal best of 7 hours 44
minutes on the Yorkshire Three
Peaks and completing the 27
mile Clarendon Way between
Winchester and Salisbury
cathedrals.
Cracking views in all directions from this Ordnance Survey trig point.
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THE LONDON & UK DATEBOOK
During the year I also
established a local walking
group to encourage more
people within my community to
walked 2,230 miles, which
equates to walking from Lands
End to John O’Groats and
almost all the way back again.
I also managed over 250,000
feet of ascent. That is
equivalent to climbing Mount
Everest eight times!
Whilst completing my Walk
2,018 miles challenge I
reached my fundraising target
of £2,018. I have decided to
continue fundraising for the
Trussell Trust repeating the
challenge and aiming to walk
2,019 miles in 2019, after all
it is only one mile further.
In the first four months of this
year I have walked over 700
miles and have already covered
over 90,000 feet of ascent
(three times up Everest) and
my total fundraising is now over
£2,600.