Paul Venables
Operation: Bearded Wanderer - Stoke to Watford 2023 (Now Closed)
Fundraising for The Davies Foundation
Story
This Page is now CLOSED
The Bearded Wanderer will return.....
πππ₯ππ¨π¦π ππ¨ ππ©ππ«πππ’π¨π§: ππππ«πππ πππ§πππ«ππ« - ππ‘π πππ¨π€π ππ’ππ² πππ₯π€
ππ‘ππ«π ππ¨ π π¬πππ«π?
They say that life is a journey, over the last few years mine has been a walking and indirectly a weight loss journey. My 40's saw me spending far too long sat at a desk and not getting out in the world. Donβt get me wrong, I was (and still am) a πΉπππ‘ππππ π·ππ which sees me on various touchlines most evenings and at weekends. But from an exercise point of view I felt that there was no time. Then a few years ago I stumbled across the ππππ ππ£ππ πΆπππππ challenge, where the aim was to walk 10,000 steps to raise money for πππ§πππ« πππ¬πππ«ππ‘ ππ and to my surprise, I completed it. Somehow finding that time during the day to include the steps, whether that be a lunch time stroll or an evening walk or indeed both. Fast forward a little and I completed the challenge π‘βπππ π‘ππππ , twice with the restrictions of Covid to contend with too.
The walking didn't stop there, when I was placed on πΉπ’ππππ’πβ in October 2020 I needed something to occupy my time (and mind), it wasnβt the sunny times that most had been lucky to have in the earlier bout of πΉπ’ππππ’πβ! I looked at DIY and cake baking but walking helped my mind and of course was starting to help fitness wise. By the time December rolled around the walking had ramped up from around 5 miles a day to a regular 10-15 miles and where restrictions allowed, visits to some local beauty spots. But December had another walking challenge in store, ππππ‘π πππ βππ πΈππ£ππ β this saw myself and three friends hit the local streets dressed as ππππ‘π πππ βππ πΈππ£ππ spreading good cheer, just a socially distanced smile and a wave but that snowballed too! Most people expected us to be collecting, so in the end with the generosity of the local community we raised money and donated it to very apt Charity for both walking and state of mind β πππππ (πππ₯π€π’π§π ππ§π πππ₯π€π’π§π ππ‘ππ«π’ππ² ππ’π€ππ¬). Of course there is also the benefit of in the last couple of years I also lost around 3 stone!
As I went into 2021 I was no longer on πΉπ’ππππ’πβ and the world attempted to kick back in, with time taken back up by football etc. I still tried to carry on walking, which lead me to last years challenge, the original ππ©ππ«πππ’π¨π§: ππππ«πππ πππ§πππ«ππ« where I walked from ππ‘πππ π‘π πΆππππ€πππ. See the Link below:
Operation: Bearded Wanderer - Kidsgrove to Looe 2021
Now, still rapidly heading towards 50, I'm πβπππππππππ myself again, why not take on another LONG walk, this time for a Football related charity because it's a huge part of my kids (and my) life. Just to complicate matters, Iβm a πππππ, in that I suffer from πΈβππππ π·πππππ ππ¦ππππππ. Where, as my variant isnβt too bad, mainly unsightly lumps on my elbows and knees, βπ π‘πππ‘πβπ¦ π πππβ and quite relaxed joints; from a walking perspective this can give me stiffness and inflammation in my ankles and Achilles so even without this challenge some days walking full stop can be painful! This is outlined by an X-Factor type 'sob story' video on the initial ππ©ππ«πππ’π¨π§: ππππ«πππ πππ§πππ«ππ« Challenge, where I suffered knee problems - Feel free to look it up on my Social Media!
Stoke City Community Trust
Stoke City Football Club's Community Trust was founded in 1989 and became a registered charity in 2004. Formerly known as the Club's Football in the Community scheme or Community Programme, the Trust engages with people in many varied ways to stimulate an environment in which they can realise their potential and subsequently accomplish more in whatever walk of life they choose for personal and professional development.
The power of sport, particularly football, is used to engage with people of all ages, abilities and social backgrounds. The Trust is committed to inclusion work, promoting health and wellbeing, and improving education. As well as providing sporting opportunities for young people to pursue and enjoy a more active lifestyle, programmes also stimulate a more positive outlook for others in need of encouragement and support, regardless of their economic status or physical ability.
The Trust is devoted to the community it serves. Within the catchment areas of Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire Moorlands, Stafford, South Staffordshire and parts of North-West Shropshire, we contact and attempt to benefit the lives of approximately 150,000 children and young people each year.
The Community Trust strives to:
- Provide opportunities for all, regardless of their background, ethnicity, economic status or physical ability.
- Provide opportunities for community participation in physical activity or recreational activities.
- Excel in being a proactive and socially responsive organisation, attuned to the community we serve.
The Walk
This challenge will see me leave ππ‘πππ πΆππ‘π¦'π home ground of the ππππππ on Saturday 29th April 2023, during their last home game. Then head off along the canal(s) for a week, arriving at ππ’πππ«ππ π ππ¨ππ for Stoke's last game of the season with πππ‘ππππ the following Monday.
Please spend some time to help me raise much needed funds for this Community based charity or help me along the way, somewhere between Stoke and Watford..... Or perhaps, if youβre feeling up for it then feel free to join me for a while β itβs only around 150 miles in a little over a week!!!
Social Media
Operation: Bearded Wanderer on Instagram
Operation: Bearded Wanderer on Twitter
Operation: Bearded Wanderer on Facebook
My Route
Stoke City FC to Watford FC Plan B
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