This September, long-standing Gympanzees supporter Paul Spicer is taking on a huge challenge: walking the full 186-mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path to raise money for Gympanzees.
Over 12 days, Paul will walk from Amroth to St Dogmaels, with half of the money raised supporting concessionary opportunities for families in Wales once the new Gympanzees centre opens, and the other half helping us raise the final funds needed to open the doors.
Paul has supported Gympanzees in many ways over the years, sharing his experience, making introductions and helping connect us with people who have generously given their time, advice and support. Now he’s swapping meetings for walking boots.
We asked Paul to tell us, in his own words, why he’s taking on 186 miles, what’s keeping him motivated and what he plans to pack for the journey…
Over to Paul.
Why I’m taking on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path
I’m a retired adviser in my mid-60s to privately owned businesses, their owners, families and management teams. I’ve been married for more than 30 years and have two great grown-up children.
I first met Steph, Gympanzees’ founder, after reading about their ambitions for the new Aust site and suggested a few things they might want to explore as they took the project forward. I then introduced people from across Bristol who I knew would willingly provide further advice and guidance.
Jack Lewis later joined Gympanzees as Director of Fundraising, and I’ve known Jack from his earlier roles with the NSPCC and The Prince’s Trust, now The King’s Trust.
Throughout, I’ve simply offered help where I can, or introductions from my network to others who have been very generous with their time, advice or funding.
Why 186 miles along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path?
I like a challenge and being outdoors, so walking the Pembrokeshire Coast Path seemed to fit the bill.
Gympanzees, despite being based on the Bristol side of the Severn, is a UK charity, not, as some people might assume, an English charity. Gympanzees is working to raise its profile across South Wales, where there are tens of thousands of children with SEND who could benefit from its support alongside their English counterparts.
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path seems to capture the far end of the geography that the new centre can support, but it will only help people who know it exists. Hopefully, the fundraising walk will help introduce Gympanzees to a much wider Welsh audience.
The benefits that Gympanzees can bring to children, parents, carers, schools and affiliated charities in towns across South Wales shouldn’t be constrained by geography, but we also know that accessing the centre could be a financial burden for some families.
That’s why part of the money raised through this walk will help provide concessionary opportunities for families across Wales once the centre opens. It’s one way of helping make sure the cost of accessing Gympanzees doesn’t become another barrier for families.
There’s a personal connection too. My wife’s family are from the Welsh Valleys, and my children grew up with all the fantastic support, culture and identity of Welsh grandparents. They even support Wales during an England v Wales rugby game! I’ve also got many great Welsh friends.
Why Gympanzees?
I’m helping because I think, and hope, that I can.
Gympanzees and its people are all about seeking to make a difference for SEND communities, because nobody else in local or national government is choosing to do so at the scale that is needed. These communities have seen support and funding reduce over more than three decades, and something needs to change.
There are already a large number of local charities supporting these communities, bringing essential care, advice and support wherever possible. Many of those charities are themselves struggling with the finances to stay afloat, let alone raise funds for a project as ambitious as this.
Why should children with SEND not be given the same access to play and have fun as children without additional needs?
It simply can’t be acceptable in today’s society for a child not to leave the house for a year because they have nowhere to go where they can enjoy themselves and feel safe and welcome.
Preparing for 12 days of walking
There’s no real shortcut to being prepared. It’s all about training walks and packing well.
I’ve learned that from previous walks where I’ve barely been able to walk after the first few days. I’ll also pack plenty of plasters!
I’m really looking forward to seeing the coastal region, its beaches and coves, and the great scenery throughout. I’m also hoping to have a few friends walking with me along the way to keep me company and keep the spirits high when perhaps the wind and rain are making things a bit bleak.
The only thing I’m really dreading is anything that might get in the way of completing the walk and the fundraiser, for whatever reason.
I’m particularly looking forward to being able to see St David’s from afar, as well as anything that gives me some great experiences of wildlife.
And I’m sure I’ll also be looking forward to reaching that final mile.
Taking a little bit of Pop Up joy with me
I’ll try not to think about the whole journey, just the small steps that will get me closer each day to the target.
When things get tough, it will be nothing like the challenges that Gympanzees children and families face every day of their lives.
I went to the Summer Pop Up for the first time in August, and the smiles on the faces of the children using the equipment were radiating pure joy.
So I’ll take a bottle of that joy on the journey with me, metaphorically speaking.
I dare anyone to watch a child use the Innowalk and not be motivated to do a bit of walking themselves.
Come and walk with me
I was originally planning to complete the walk with Ed Ware, a great supporter of Gympanzees, but unfortunately he can’t take part anymore.
If anyone wants to join any part of the walk, please reach out. It would be great to get more people supporting the challenge, using their own networks to promote Gympanzees and helping with the fundraising.
There might also be work teams or running clubs that would like to create a weekend of fundraising memories, and we’ve deliberately planned the walk to include two weekend opportunities.
The Gympanzees team can help provide marketing and fundraising material, and you might even get a Gympanzees T-shirt to keep and wear around South Wales.
Help people discover Gympanzees
I would love the reaction to the walk to simply be about promoting Gympanzees, so please start talking about it.
If you’re already aware of Gympanzees, share the fundraiser across your networks. Donate yourself if you’re able to, or ask other individuals and businesses whether they would be willing to help with funding.
For those of us old enough to remember the Live Aid concert of the 80s, and to paraphrase Bob Geldof: Gympanzees is delivering the project now, but it needs to be given the money to complete it.
What's going in the backpack?
I shall be packing a portable foot bath and a bag of Epsom Salts as a luxury, so beyond that I shall be fine.
And when I finally reach St Dogmaels after 186 miles?
I think the main thing will be to see how much the walk has raised and how much closer Gympanzees has got to its target.
And also to enjoy a cold beer.
I shall then enjoy a good night’s sleep and work out how I get back to Bristol.
The journey never really ends!
– Paul
Support Paul’s walk
Paul will set off from Amroth on 16 September, walking the full 186-mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path before reaching St Dogmaels on 27 September.
Half of the money raised will support concessionary opportunities for families in Wales once the new Gympanzees Centre opens, while the other half will help us raise the final funds needed to open the doors.
You can support Paul by donating, sharing his challenge or joining him for a day or part of the route.
