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<div>My Long Walk Home starts on: 3rd March 2012</div>
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<div><em>Living in the Scottish Borders I am a 57 year old grandmother with two grown up children, Alan, who has dealt with eczema most of his life and Claire. I am Nana Porridge to James and Ollie and Nana Heather to Hannah and Becca. </em></div>
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<div><em>I successfully completed an Open University degree in December 2010 and needed another challenge!!!!!! </em><em> </em></div>
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<div><em>I have always loved walking so the obvious thing to do is walk and raise money for the National Eczema Society at the same time.What better way than to walk from one end of the U.K. to the other! </em><em>Inspired by Ian Botham who walked it in 1985 the idea has been sitting in my head since then. The loss and illness of family members and friends has enabled me to take stock and bring this dormant idea to the fore. At this moment in my life I have the time, health and support of a wonderful husband who has offered to back me all the way in our camper van, as well as the commitment, drive and determination to undertake such a challenge. With the love and unwavering support of family and friends I am sure this walk will surpass all that I have already achieved. </em></div>
<div><em>I am in the process of planning the walk which I should complete on 30th June 2012. I have also started training for this adventure of a lifetime, one that will take me to my physical and psychological limits but also give me the most enormous sense of achievement on completion. At 21/11/11 the planning is done, the route marked on the appropriate O.S. maps across the U.K. and the campsites booked. Training now involves swimming 5 days a week and plenty of walking. </em></div>
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<div><em>At 28/01/12 I am getting really excited about the walk. I have upped the walking I do every week. My part time job that I took on to finance the adventure finishes next Friday and I have reached my goal of fully funding the walk so that every penny raised will go directly to the National Eczema Society. Watch this space for further updates as the walk progresses. </em></div>
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<div><em>At 28/02/2012 I have finished work, linked up with most members of our family and many dear friends who all wish us well. The bags are packed, the boots itching to tread the first step of our journey. We are excited and ready to go!</em></div>
<div><em>You can also follow the walk at: </em></div>
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<div><em><a href="http://www.travelpod.com/heather-stewart">www.travelpod.com/members/heather-stewart</a> </em></div>
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<div><em>With my husband Stewart as support we look forward to receiving your comments as I walk the length of the U.K.</em><em> </em></div>
<div>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</div>
<div>So please dig deep and donate now. I look forward to receiving your donation which will help the National Eczema Society to more fully understand the causes and effective treatments for eczema. Thank you.</div>