Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page, I will explain what 'Challenge 2650' is about and what I am heading out to do...

The Adventure with a BIGGER PURPOSE....

On April 23rd, I will set off on an adventure of a lifetime with nothing more than my 60L pack containing all my gear for a 2660 mile trail ahead of me...

I will be following the Pacific Crest Trail from the US-Mexican border, plodding north along to the Manning Provincial Park in Canada. I shall walk the length of California, Oregon and Washington, heading through many national parks, the Mojave desert and over the High Sierra range!

...WHY?!

My nephew, Josh was diagnosed with macular dystrophy when he was 4 years old in which his eyesight will deteriorate. He is now 7 years old and although he is coping well he has already lost considerable vision. My youngest nephew, Andy was also assessed in early 2019 and the results have now shown that he has the same condition. They are both bubbly characters with big personalities and all the energy to go with it!

I am embarking on this journey to help raise funds for my nephews and others in his position through British Blind Sport.

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The funds will help towards any adaptive training, visual aids and other forms of assistance that are needed as they grow.

I will also be raising money for the charity British Blind Sport (BBS).

BBS is the only national sports charity in the UK specifically for visually impaired (VI) children and adults in the UK. BBS uses the power of sport to enhance the lives of people with VI and help them to develop more active, healthy and independent lifestyles. At BBS they help introduce a variety of sporting opportunities for the visually impaired, these sports vary from running to walking groups, snow and water sports. Every year BBS reach more than 5000 people of all ages across the UK.

Sport acts are a springboard towards greater opportunities – improving health and wellbeing, building confidence, raising self-esteem and enabling people with VI to connect with others and be part of an active community.

Projects are targeted to help with - adaptive equipment; 1-1 support for young children taking their first steps into activity; youth leadership and multi-sport taster days; Group walking programmes for older people experiencing isolation and loneliness.

BBS also has the First Steps initiative which is aimed at children with sight loss.

There are more than 25,000 VI children in the UK and research shows that, despite having the same potential as their sighted peers, VI children have much poorer motor skills & are far less likely to be physically active.

Research shows that early intervention, adaptive equipment and the teaching of physical activity is crucial for children with sight loss to assist their physical literacy.

Raising a child with a disability is estimated to be three times more expensive than the cost of raising a non-disabled child. This makes it difficult for a parent to access help or buy assistive toys or equipment that a child with sight loss may benefit from.

I appreciate any donation whether it be a monthly donation as I progress on my journey or a one-off, it is hugely appreciated from my family to those families affected by visual impairment.

***Due to difficulties having donations to two causes on one page I have created a fundraiser page with JustGiving, specifically to help my British Blind Sport as well as Josh + Andy. Follow the separate links via my website - www.bootandtrail.com***

This fundraising page is to support my nephews Josh + Andy!

THANK YOU!

Read more on my website - Find out more about my journey...

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