UPDATE:

A message from Mike....

Well, Mike’s Hike is finished. I am in one piece and more importantly we have reached my fundraising target of £5,000!

A massive thank you for your donation. Your support will mean that young people at Prior’s Court will have a new Performing Arts Centre designed specifically with their needs in mind. It will mean more young people will be able to enjoy the benefits of the performing arts.

Memories I will take away

• Down memory lane on day one reliving the sponsored walk I did with school in 1970 between Bath and Bradford on Avon

• The horror and disbelief on my face when I realised Paula had eaten the muffin left for me on our first night

• Paula and I trying to win the pub quiz prize to add to the pot, but sadly our general knowledge was not up to scratch.

• Completing the high altitude stage of Caen locks without incident

• Ex colleague, George, turning up at the pub to wish me well over a pint and leaving me with the bill!

• Panic when faced with “Towpath closed” sign. Successfully managed detour and even bumped into passer-by who kindly sponsored me

• The support from Paula, friends and colleagues who joined me on route or via the many video messages sent throughout the Hike

• The joy of welcoming party at the end

I can’t think of a more enjoyable way to end my days at Prior’s Court. Thank you all for making it such a success.

UPDATE: He's done it!!

Mike crossed the line into Newbury just before 4pm on Friday, 30 June - ending his epic 60-mile hike along the Kennet & Avon Canal, fundraising for our Let Me Shine Performing Arts Centre project.

Mike was greeted by a welcome committee of Prior's Court staff and young people in Victoria Park, who cheered him across the finish line with plenty of noise and signs to cheer him in. Well done Mike!

Mike was presented with a specially-made medal and a glass of fizz.At the end of July, after 8 years at Prior's Court, Mike will be retiring and so, as a "punishment" for leaving, the team have roped him in to taking part in a fundraising challenge in support of Priors Court.

It only seemed right that as he is leaving to have more time to spend doing the things he loves, like walking and hiking, that we set him a fundraising challenge centred on this. But we didnt want it to be easy - this is a "punishment" for leaving and so we want it to be a challenge!

We have therefore set a multi-day, 60-mile hike for Mike to take on. The route will start in Bath, where Mike grew up and will take him along a stretch of the Kennet & Avon Canal ending in Newbury. This will mean four full days of walking from sunrise to sunset with very little time to rest in between!

Mike is so passionate about the work of Priors Court and is therefore committed to raising as much as possible through this challenge. All funds raised from this challenge will go toward building a state of the art Performing Arts Centre, Let Me Shine, which will improve the arts provision at Prior's Court and transform the lives of young people with complex autism, you can read more about the project here .

Mike will be joined along parts of the walk by some staff and young people from Priors Court. It is set to be a fun, challenging and emotional walk which will celebrate the eight incredible years Mike has spent as CEO of Priors Court and all he has achieved in that time.

Any donations you can give to spur Mike on and give him the 'thank you' he so deserves for everything he has done for Prior's Court and so many young people, would be very gratefully received. Your donation will improve the lives of young people with complex autism. You can read more about the difference your donation will make here . Thank you!