Recently, fundraiser Steve Kelly has walked Alfred Wainwright’s Coast to Coast walk, raising over £1,000 for Salisbury Hospice along the way! Below, he gives an account of his fundraising journey.
My name is Steve Kelly. I am 77 years old, and I have lived in Salisbury all my life. Last year, my wife’s brother died at Salisbury Hospice, after being cared for by the wonderful clinical team. Two of my friends, whom I met through playing Walking Football, have also died in the hospice recently.
I decided I wanted to raise money for Salisbury Hospice to thank them for the care my loved ones received. I enjoy walking and getting outdoors, so walking Alfred Wainwright’s Coast to Coast route seemed the ideal way to fundraise. As well as having a thoroughly delightful (and exhausting) time, I hoped to do some good by raising money to benefit the hospice.
Wainwright’s 192-mile coast to coast route goes from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay in Yorkshire. Two thirds of the route is inside the National Parks of the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, and North York Moors, so it’s a beautiful walk.
I set off on 6th August and completed the walk in twelve days, backpacking along the way. I carried my tent, cooking equipment and various supplies, wild camping as I went – but I did use a couple of campsites for the “very occasional shower”!
The longest days involved walking 21 miles and were extremely hilly – up and down non-stop with a bit of scrambling. There were a few days which were a little bit hot! I met some really kind people on the walk who gave me donations along the way, and water when I had run out.
I stapled a laminated notice to my rucksack, informing fellow travellers about my expedition and the fundraising I was undertaking. I was fortunate to receive donations from generous people I met while on the walk, 100% of which will go to the hospice. I have also had tremendous support, moral and financial, from family and friends, and members of Salisbury Walking Football. All these donations will help to make an impact on an organisation on which close friends have recently needed to call.
Are you raising money for Salisbury Hospice? We’d love to hear your story – please get in touch.
