As many of you know I lost my Dad, Martin Amps-Woodward, to Asbestosis and Lung cancer in the early hours of Sunday 7 th January this year.

At the age of 17, you do not expect to lose a parent, and it is very hard to believe and accept. I still go to text or call him to see how he is and to tell him what is happening. That kicks me in the gut every time.

A few days after Dad’s funeral we had a visitor into school who was talking about The Malcolm Whales Foundation, which is a charity that was formed in memory of Malcom Whales, and was started by his son Damien, who was the person that came to talk to us. This was a very hard assembly to sit through, especially being so soon after losing my Dad, but I’m really glad that I was in the room, and heard about the foundation, and the upcoming Dorset Walk. I immediately messaged my Mum and said “By the way I’m gonna be busy from the 11th to the 15th of July”. As she had just received an email from school about the walk, she knew what it was about, and knew that I would want to do it.

I am looking forward to the challenge, and the atmosphere on the walk. We are all walking together from Arthur Mellows Village College, and there will be times that we all need support, and hopefully we can all support each other both mentally and physically along the way.

The current project that is being supported by TMWF is a £90,000 project to build a Lakeside Respite Retreat in Pidley, Cambridgeshire for families affected by cancer which will be such an amazing place for those who are able to access it. There have been many other projects too including weeks of outward bounds cancer support, renovations of charity clubhouses, a charity support boat, completion of two hospital gardens, funding of numerous support projects, contributions to to research projects, supporting individuals, making donations to fundraising causes, sponsoring conferences, paying for counselling and lots more.

If you would like to sponsor me on this walk, please click on the link and make your donation. If you would prefer to sponsor me directly please let me know and we can sort that too.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Team AMVC are taking 57 students and staff to Dorset to fundraise for this amazing charity so please sponsor us.

Every penny counts, thank you.