Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I’m really excited to lead this fantastic charity trek for Children Today!

More than 25 years ago I set up Children Today because
I found it absurd that although there were already lots of charities to help children with disabilities, it was virtually impossible to get funding for specialist equipment for individuals.

I wanted to be able to help families directly to offer increased independence and the best possible quality of life. I knew that adapted  buggies and car seats, for example, could mean the difference between a family being able to leave the house together or not and in my opinion that’s not a luxury, it’s a basic human right.

Sadly, all these years later there’s still no government or NHS funding, as these items are considered non-essential, so events like these are vital to help us build up the much-needed funds to continue to support children with disabilities.

Originally the trip was due to take place in 2020, but due to the pandemic had to be postponed until this September.  

The last 12 months have been particularly challenging for many of the families we support. Our daily walks, runs or bike rides have become so important for both our physical and mental health, but getting out and about can be much more difficult for those with disabilities. It breaks my heart when I hear that families have been cooped up indoors for months at a time because they simply don’t have the equipment needed to go for a family walk and can’t currently access the groups where they would normally be able to get some support with exercise.

It’s so important for young people with disabilities to be as active as they possibly can. Research suggests that young wheelchair users are much more likely to be sedentary for long periods,
which can lead to further health problems including obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

I'll be hiking almost 60 kilometres over five days, through the stunning landscapes of the Bucegi and Carpathian Mountains and Piatra Crailui National Park with a team of Children Today supporters.  

I’d encourage anyone who enjoys a challenge and wants to make a real difference to the lives of children with disabilities to join me.

There’s honestly nothing more rewarding than finding out your efforts have resulted in a young girl finally being able to join her family on a bike ride for the first time ever or that a student can attend university because they have the means to do so!

To find out about just some of the young people that Children Today has supported visit: https://www.childrentoday.org.uk/meet-the-kids/