Story
In brief...
Please sponsor me to get blisters so Samaritans can answer more calls at night. You know my pain is worth your money.

Longer explanation...
This is the 6th year that I have leaned on the generosity of friends, family, and complete strangers to support Samaritans in return for knowing that I will only use my feet to get around for the whole of July. No car, no bike, no rollerskates, no taxis, no buses, no lifts, just feet. Shopping each week is a mere 4 miles (but it's a steep hill back with a full rucksack), a weekly shift at Samaritans in Plymouth is 11 miles, and other local meetings and gatherings are in the same range.
Each year, I also agree to an in-person meeting with a client (if it helps raise awareness of the charity and maybe some more funds) otherwise work is virtual. For 2025, I will be walking to Mawgan Porth on the beautiful north Cornwall coast for meetings with the wonderful bunch at Red Hotels (operators of the exceptional Bedruthan and Scarlet hotels). I hope to get there in two long days on 12/13 July and the same back on 15/16. If all goes to plan, it'll be 98 miles in 41.5 hours of walking. Going east to west and vice versa means crossing all the river valleys so total ascent is 10,868 ft - that's 564ft less than Everest from base camp but the temperature and oxygen levels are more forgiving in Cornwall.
I don't need to introduce Samaritans, the listening charity that's been around since 1953; that was the very first telephone helpline in the world; that is available by phone and email 24/7/365; that never judges, but accepts you for the pain you feel and the gloom you see.
The problem is, Samaritans still doesn't have quite enough volunteers to meet two important objectives: answering every call first time in the middle of the night, and rolling out an online chat service which currently operates only in the evenings. Volunteer recruitment, training and retention costs money and it's money that I want from you. £5, £50, £500 - every bit helps, but please don't feel obliged. I have never knowingly ended a friendship through lack of sponsorship and the fact you're reading this is also very welcome support.
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