Fundraiser for 'Walks For All' Walks Coast-to-Coast
Cumbrian Volunteer walks Coast-to-Coast Route to Raise Funds For ‘Walks For All’
A Cumbrian volunteer has walked a unique Coast to Coast route to raise money for an accessible walks program.
Fenella Tratt set off from her home in Silverdale on Thursday, August 28th, making her way to Saltburn-by-the-Sea, to fundraise for the Dementia Friendly ‘Walks for All’ programme.
Completing the walk in ten days, Fenella is one of a team of volunteers at Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape who guide the walks for people living with dementia, and their carers.
Fenella said: “I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who sponsored me, because I’d probably have given up halfway if they hadn’t! I think we’ll have raised nearly £2,000 by the time I’ve added it all up! Everyone seems to have been following my blog and enjoying coming with me along the way, which has been the best thing.”
Fenella was supported along her 120-mile route by partner, Den, who drove their campervan ahead to the next campsite on each leg of the journey, as well as dogs, Bobbi and Roxy.
The Dementia Friendly ‘Walks for All’ programme was launched in 2019, led by Feleena Taylor, offering weekly routes for different mobility levels from March to mid-December with monthly meetings in January and February.
Feleena said: “Fenella has been a long serving volunteer for ‘Walks for All’ since 2019 and has witnessed the huge impact it has made to members and their carers. What she’s enjoyed the most is seeing how the walks provide a challenge, and I think this inspiration led to her own fantastic walking fundraising challenge! She’s a star volunteer, and now long distance walker and fundraiser!”
Fenella was inspired to become a volunteer to honour the memory of her father who was a volunteer warden in the Lake District National Park, and lived with Alzheimer’s in later life.
She said: “I know that he would have loved these Tuesday mornings, walking and chatting.”