Hello,

Thank you for visiting my Justgiving page.  I hope you will join me in supporting NAPAC. They are doing such an amazing job!

Firstly, let me tell you a bit about myself and why I became involved with NAPAC…

Way back in 1985 I met a lovely man. We were both far from home, but fatefully in the same place at the same time. We fell in love… then he fell apart. The ‘falling apart’ happened gradually. In fact, he’d been falling apart since he was a very little lad. I didn’t notice the bits of his soul falling off… leaving him depleted, accumulating all over the floor of our life and getting in the way.... we both just stepped over it. Me, because I didn’t know he had been horribly abused as a child 'In Care' and didn't know the signs, and he, because he was keeping THE secret.

For my Billy, that secret eventually came out when he had a complete mental breakdown and everything bubbled to the surface. It was a terribly hard time for him. He was absolutely, and completely lost. For me, the worst part was, not knowing how to help him – or even reach him. I felt powerless, scared, and worried every minute of every day. We had nowhere to turn.

At the same time that we were going through this terrible time, Peter Saunders was developing his idea of founding a national organisation for people abused in childhood… and NAPAC was born. NAPAC is giving abuse survivors, and their loved ones, somewhere to turn... and for that I will do all I can to ensure that they can continue to do what they do so well.

So now, let me tell you what I am doing…

I am pledging to hike at least 500miles from April/May 2008 to May 2009 with five ‘overnights’, camping out. So far I have hiked 390 miles and have done 3 overnights. Unfortunately due to ill-health I haven't  been able to participate in any walking since the beginning of Feb. and since the waiting list at the hospital is proving to be lengthy I am forced to suspend my pledge. For now I am taking Feb and March off so will extend the finish date by two months to July. Thank you for your support!

As of May 19th... still no Op date! So basically I'm still not walking... and very much, still waiting. Think it best to put the pledge on hold for the time being. BUT I WILL BE BACK!! Thanks for your continued support!

Also, I have put together a Charity CD, ‘NAPAC Un-muted’. The idea for the CD came to me as I was writing my book, The Throwaway Boy. Throughout my book I quoted songs at the beginning of each chapter... and somewhere along the line I thought of making a charity CD made up of those songs. The idea evolved and now the CD is a mixture of some really great songs (some original songs sent in from survivors) all aimed at providing inspirational music, and at the same time, fundraising for NAPAC! To find out more about the CD please go to www.napac.org.uk or visit the CD's very own justgiving page www.justgiving.com/napacunmuted

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: NAPAC will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks for your support, Alix Chapel