Hello! Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.

I am going to be doing a trek from Billericay in Essex to Oxwich Bay Hotel in Swansea. It is 233 miles ! I am doing this to raise money for Parkinsons Disease and Breast Cancer Care in memory of my Mother in Law, Mrs. Ann Hennigan, who sadly passed away in January.

My start date is Sunday the 22nd of April at 10am from South Green in Billericay. My aim is to arrive at the Oxwich Bay Hotel, Swansea by aprox 3pm on the 1st of May ,which would have been her birthday.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Parkinson's Disease Society 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, if you can, please sponsor me now!

I would like to express my extreme gratitude to all the Staff and Management of The Oxwich Bay Hotel for providing me with accomodation and for all of their ongoing support.

Update:

My route has changed a little and the distance is approx 251 miles now. My finalised route is below if you wish to know where I will be on each day.

These are the links to my intended route on a day to day basis.

Day 1 http://tinyurl.com/2toypr    Day 2 http://tinyurl.com/2kby64 

Day 3 http://tinyurl.com/2rkov4   Day 4 http://tinyurl.com/38ytmd  

Day 5 http://tinyurl.com/36286j   Day 6 http://tinyurl.com/2nuzt6

Day 7 http://tinyurl.com/2vlt2n    Day 8 http://tinyurl.com/33hbuc  

Day 9 http://tinyurl.com/2qez2e  Day 10 http://tinyurl.com/3czhbf

                       

Job Done !!

It’s now Friday the 4^th of May and I am finally back home! I completed my hike to Oxwich Bay in Swansea on time! I arrived to a great reception at the car park of The Oxwich Bay Hotel on Tuesday the 1^st of May at 2:43pm- 17 minutes ahead of schedule!

Although my feet and legs were very sore by the end, I feel that it was all worth it.

I know deep, down in my heart that all the times I was exhausted and in pain, my Mother in Law Ann Hennigan was there beside me in spirit to pick me up and push me on. I love you and miss you terribly. I did it for you and you will be forever in my thoughts. xxx Simon

I feel both privileged and honoured to have had the support and words of encouragement from so many people along the way. Thank you ever so much to everybody that sponsored me and helped me on this trek.

I would like to thank some people and places for their help during the 10 days and for making it all possible:

The biggest thank you I can give to my darling Wife Ann and my most beautiful Daughter Erin for their never-ending love, support and belief in me. I love you both more than can possibly be put into words!

A big thank you to my amazing Sister in Law Fiona Boucher and my champion Brother in Law David Boucher for providing me with some great gear, supplies and unrelenting logistical support throughout the Trek. Thanks for being my “Control Tower” I love you both dearly!

I need to say a special thank you to Radio Presenter Leighton Jones and all of the Staff at Radio Station Swansea Sound 1170 mw for all of the publicity and awareness you raised about my Trek live on air during the many interviews you conducted with me from Gloucester onwards to the Finish in Oxwich. You were like a “Homing Beacon” for me coming in to Swansea and I will never forget what you did for me. Thank you always.

To my mate Paul for meeting up with me near Aylesbury and giving me some medical supplies and for his constant words of encouragement and support all along the way.I really appreciate it pal!

To my friends Leigh, Lisa, Nikki, Kirsty, Roxanne, Sarah, John and Bill at The Blue Rhino Group for the text messages and phone calls of encouragement during my Trek. Thanks guys, big time! Love to you all!!

To all of my Family, Relatives and friends, my Mum and Dad and two brothers, my Grand Parents and Aunts and Uncles, Thank you for all of your tireless support and love along the way.

Everyone who has sponsored me and continues to do so, thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart, it means a lot to me and to both The Parkinsons Disease Society and Breast Cancer Care

To all of the Hotels along my route; a very big thank you:

Thank you to the Staff and Management of The Ponsbourne Park Hotel near Hertford, for the accommodation and terrific food Sunday night at the end of Day 1;

Thank you to Mr. Miller, Mr. Dimoss and the Staff of The Pennyfarthing Hotel in Berkhamsted for the accommodation on Monday night at the end of Day 2;

Thanks to James and the Staff of the Travel Lodge in Wheatley for the accommodation on Tuesday night at the end of Day 3;

A big thank you to Carl, Lona, Peter and all of the Staff of The Bull at Burford for your hospitality, reception glorious food and amazing accommodation on Wednesday night at the end of Day 4;

Thanks to Jean, Jackie and all the Staff of the Premier Inn at Little Witcombe for your accommodation and wonderful food on Thursday night at the end of Day 5;

Thank you to all of the Staff and Management of The Angel Hotel in Coleford for the accommodation on Friday night at the end of Day 6;

Thank you Tony and the Staff of The Park Guest House in Abergavenny for the great hospitality and accommodation on Saturday night at the end of Day 7;

Thanks to Simon, Denise and all of the Staff of the Ty Newdd Hotel in Hirwaun for the exquisite accommodation, reception and lovely food, even though it was really late in the evening, on Sunday night at the end of Day 8;

Thank you to Kevin, all the Ladies in reception and all of the Staff of the Towers Hotel in Jersey Marine, Swansea for the excellent hospitality, use of the Spa and great food on Monday night at the end of Day 9;

A big thank you to Susan, the Management and all of the Staff of The Oxwich Bay Hotel, Gower Peninsula, Swansea for providing me with accommodation, food and an absolutely stunning setting for a finish line on Tuesday the 1^st of May at the end of  Day 10 – The End of my Trek !!

Many thanks again!!!

Simon Mellamphy