Gwyneth Hopkins

Gwyn's 7 day sponsored walk round Pembrokeshire for "M.E. awareness week"

Fundraising for ME Research UK
£858
raised of £750 target
by 19 supporters
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ME Research UK

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We fund vital innovative biomedical studies to ignite research into ME/CFS

Story

Mission complete

I finished my walk by 3 pm at Haverfordwest on Sat., having walked over 122 miles.

The weather was dry but the first three nights that I camped were nearly freezing, so I didn't sleep to well. On the forth evening my sister collected my tent and I went into a hostel and then B&B's.

I travelled through very varied countryside, from tracks around hay fields where the grass was knee deep and lots of nettles in places to lovely open tracks through bluebell woods. I walked over boggy hill tops in the Preseli's and stretches of coast path with spectacular views. Even the stretches of road had interesting things like wild orchids and loads of other flowers and there were lots of butterflies and birds. I saw one of my favourites the Wheatear. 

I spoke to lots of interesting people along the way who were very supportive. Thanks for all your help and donations.

Thanks to Liz for all her help. She even drove out with clean clothes after I'd had to walk through slurry in a farmyard and had it all up my trousers!! And I'm sure Beth (my pup) really enjoyed her company.

    ....................................

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.I appreciate all donations.

Having had M.E.for 5 years, first bedbound then progressing to a reclining wheelchair and eventually to 100% recovery, I now feel I want to help raise awareness for M.E. and raise money for research.

Since 2006  I have walked 750 miles for charity. When asked why I do it, I say because I can and it's a joy to feel well and be out in nature again after spending years in bed. 

If I can help inspire M.E. sufferers at the same time, that's great. I think M.E. sufferers are the forgotten people, often living between their own four walls with very little support or understanding. I was told I had very little chance of making a complete recovery and I want others to realise they should never give up. I made it thanks to Complementary Therapies and great family support.                          

For details of my M.E. and previous walks see my website www.gwynhopkins.co.uk 

I also want to raise awareness of the newly formed Group for M.E. and FM in West Wales. For details contact Tina on 01437 454359.

I will start at The Riverside, Haverfordwest at 10am on Sunday 11th May and walk around the Cleddua estuary to Llawrenny, and then Lydstep, Tenby, up past Narbeth and across the Preseli Mountains to Newport, across to St.Davids and finish in Haverfordwest a week later. Hopefully arriving at The Riverside, Haverfordwest about 3.30-4pm on Sat. 17th.

I will carry a tent and full pack and camp on route, unless we get really bad weather and then I may decide to stay in hostels or B&B's (at my own cost). 

Contact - gwyn@gwynhopkins.co.uk     01646 636683

During the walk I can be contacted on 0795016038912th 

12th May 2014

Gwyn has phoned in at the end of her second day.She is camping on the Narbeth side of Tenby on a good sight where she can get a welcomed hot shower. Yesterday the site Gwyn had planned to stay on no longer exists !!! Fortunately a friendly native allowed her to pitch up in his garden. Some of the footpaths have been very overgrown and hard going. The walk is on schedule and Gwyns spirits are high. Liz and Beth are meeting her tomorrow with fresh supplies and news. The weather is still dry and sunny with the wind less strong and the forecast is even better for the next few days.

13th May

Met up with Gwyn today at Templeton just outside of Narbeth. Last night Gwyn was really cold in the night so didn,t sleep so well. Today she has made good ground and is staying on a little site at Llawhaden. The weather is still very good and looks to further improve over the next few days, the down side of course is that the nights will also be cold.

15th May

Gwyn walked an impressive 20 miles yesterday. However after another freezing night and not much sleep she has ditched the tent and opted for a warm bed. Last night she stayed in a lovely Youth Hostel in Newport. Gwyn called Liz for a supply of shorts and more food !! The walk yesterday was beautiful and the sun shone all day again. Gwyn was caught out on one occasion by a path deep in slurry so her only pair of trousers were stinking !!! That was another good reason to call for more clothes. Today Gwyn is hoping to finish between Fishguard and St Davids. 

17th May

Amazing, the last day already. The weather has been just perfect for walking. Gwyn has enjoyed the last few days especially because she has been able to soak up the magnificent views of the Pembrokeshire coast line. On the 15th Gwyn had a very long days walk and made it to The Square and Compass not many miles from St Davids. Yesterday she made it into St Davids and lunched with friends then took to the coast path and headed towards Solva where she sent the night in a B&B by the harbour. Gwyn hopes ot finish her walk at 3.45 by the Riverside (next to Costas)in Haverfordwest. Come and cheer her in after such an achievement and please keep the donations rolling in. Many thanks.

About the charity

ME Research UK

Verified by JustGiving

RCN SCIO - SC036942
ME Research UK exists solely to fund high quality biomedical studies into the causes and treatment of ME/CFS. This illness affects approximately 250,000 people in the UK but is neither well understood nor, in many cases, properly recognised. We fund highly regarded, peer-reviewed research worldwide.

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