Paddy Lyons’ Just Giving Story

Our family has been involved in Chickenshed for 42 years. In 1978, our 8-year-old daughter Catherine went along with her friend to a workshop being run by Mary Ward and Jo Collins in a local church hall, and the family have been involved ever since. Our four other children, Matthew, Joseph, Daniel and Anthony, all joined when they were old enough and now six of our grandchildren, Olivia, Toby, Hannah, Max, Oscar and Louie are all involved as well. The seventh grandchild, Arlo, was born only a few weeks ago but no doubt, as soon as Tales from the Shed resumes, he will be there along with his mum and dad! 

And now, at the grand-old age of 85, I’m actively involved with my wife, Elsie, in the Space Between Us programme plus the Community Choir. Before the lockdown we were up at the theatre taking part in workshops and rehearsals often twice a week, and now that we're in isolation and adhering to the social distancing guidelines we seem to be actively involved in Virtual Chickenshed nearly every day!

So, including myself and Elsie, our five children and seven grandchildren, that's 13 immediate family who've been involved as  members or participants - and I haven’t even counted my daughter-in law or my nephew's three kids!

Chickenshed  is so much more than just a building - it’s a community. A community made up of family and friends who work together to create the feeling that anything is possible. And in this time of lockdown I've begun something that a few months ago would have seemed impossible. I’m embarking on a 100-mile walk - in our garden - to raise money for Chickenshed. At this time of enforced closure many of the company’s revenue streams will have dried up so I’m doing my bit to help make sure there is a Chickenshed to return to when all this is over. A place for people like us to connect with their community and a place for our new-born grandson, Arlo, to grow into as he chases after his big brothers. And everyone in between!

Now 100 miles is the equivalent of 4400 lengths of my garden or, if you like, 2,554 walks around Chickenshed’s Rayne Theatre. Perhaps easier to manage is that it’s the equivalent of seven and a half miles per family member who has benefited from being part of the Chickenshed community over the past 42 years. However you wrap it up it’s a long walk for an 85-year-old with severe arthritis in the lower spine which is both painful and limiting. It will take me  until mid-august when, hopefully, we will be returning to some sort of normality, and will all be able to return to Chickenshed and be together again. 

In the meantime please do spread the word of this challenge I've set myself and pass on the JustGiving link. And I really look forward to seeing you all very soon.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.  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. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.