Hello fellow walker,

You may be thinking about going for a pleasant short walk in the country this weekend… or perhaps a longer hike… you may even be planning Offa’s Dyke, The Pennine Way or Wainwright’s Coast To Coast. I, for one, assume that I can just slip on my walking gear and off I go to enjoy the fresh air, the scenery, the company and that feeling of wellbeing that walking brings.

Kristen will never enjoy that feeling. Ten year old Kristen, has hypotonic cerebral palsy and will never be able to enjoy what we able bodied walkers enjoy and take for granted.

Kristen’s life is, by regular standards, unbelievably restricted; wheelchair bound, she cannot sit up without support nor does she have full control of her arm movements. That Sunday morning stroll in the country will never, ever happen for her.

However, Kristen and others at her school, do enjoy the freedom of weightlessness movement in a pool. We know she’s happy because although she cannot talk, her little face lights up with a wonderful smile. Unfortunately, the pool they use is frequently too cold and is not purpose built for disabled children. There is limited access as this pool belongs to another school with the financial pressure of closure!

We need your help; actually, we need your money.

Kristen’s school, The Clare School in Norwich, is raising money to build a hydrotherapy pool, which will be used by the school and other disabled people. Kristen’s dad, Mitch (not a regular walker) and I are going to walk Wainwright’s Coast To Coast (200 miles) in five days this summer, 18th June 2017 – 22nd June 2017, in an attempt to raise money for the pool. £120,000 has been raised so far out of the £500,000 required. Whilst walking 40 miles a day we will not have time to sight see or rest or enjoy it that much. We are expecting pain and discomfort but we think it is a tiny price to pay.

Please help by sponsoring us giving as much as you can to help the faces of Kristen and her friends light up.

Keep up to date with our endeavours - blisters and all! - over at our blog, www.40milesaday.blog

Thank you.

Shane and Mitch