Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Phil, who now lives in British Columbia, is one of the original founders of Black Country Foodbank (BCFB) nearly 20 years ago. After a few years operating locally on a small but meaningful scale, it was clear that the need was greater than the operation could at that time service and I assembled and led the team of wonderful people that transitioned BCFB into a registered charity and a viable service operating across the Black Country, now in 24 locations and serving hundreds of thousands of meals a year - not that we should be happy about that level of need!

When you hear about foodbanks in the news, you tend to hear about the largest network in the UK, which naturally attracts a lot of external funding, but there are many hundreds, if not thousands, of independent foodbanks, which rely on consistent dedicated fundraising and volunteers, just like BCFB which we believe is the third largest network in the UK.

The ethos we always encouraged at BCFB is that it is volunteer led and powered by the generous donations of local people. We have always ensured funding for a small team of dedicated, passionate and committed individuals who form the nucleus of the operation at the warehouse - but BCFB then relies upon countless volunteers not just at the central distribution hub, but also in each of the 24 network points. The operational costs of BCFB are therefore very low considering the service it delivers, which means that any financial donations are very efficiently administered indeed.

Each year I chaired BCFB (I stepped down around 9 years ago), we always hoped that the need would decrease, not increase - but as I look ahead now, all I can see again sadly is the onward exponential march of greater need. We used to allow only two emergency food parcels of 10 meals per claimant - but this is no longer possible to limit people in this way; they or their children would literally go without for weeks not days. We used to largely only see people that were unemployed and on the margins, through circumstance, health, etc - also no longer the case. Em ployed people are now regular visitors to foodbanks and similar services. I don't want to make a political matter out of this appeal, only to hi-light the extent of the ever-growing (I still hope one day shrinking) need.

Phil and I begin a walk this Tuesday 20th June 2023; the Coast to Coast, from St Bees on the west coast of the Lake District, onward through the dales and the moors of Yorkshire until eventually arriving at Robin Hood's Bay, some 190 miles approximately, 10 days later, having completed a sum total of roughly 20 miles a day and average ascents of 3,250 feet each day - 32,500 feet ascent across that time - although I believe one of the days is more like 5,000 feet. Yes! We have to do it in 10 days, because Phil flies back to Canada on the 11th day. How confident are we?

Phil is a bit of an action man. Should be no trouble to him. But when I went and 'renewed' my outdoor gear in readiness for this trip, the shop owner asked me what training and preparation I had done ahead of this walk. Suffice to say, he wasn't convinced by my answer (I think it was the long pause) and bid me a cheery farewell as he held his shop door open, reminding me that the trip had already been a success for him at least - even if it might not turn out to be for me!

So, assuming we make it and you do hear of us again - I should very much like to invite those of you who feel inclined to do so, to help us to make it a success for Black Country Foodbank too. I've never done anything on JustGiving before, but assume I will be able to post updates or some sort of confirmation of success or appeal for mountain rescue or just some emergency chocolate, etc...

So, that's my short (?) message. It only remains for me to wish you all a lovely couple of weeks ahead while we trek on and to scatter a few platitudes across the final paragraph from me: look after each other, be kind, be tolerant, be compassionate (sounds like a lecture but it is pretty much how I'd like society to be). Most of all, be authentic I guess - because that's what makes us all tick.

And now - the blurb... And thank you (if you got this far)! Jo.

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