I'm spending 2023 walking and drawing my way along the UK's longest national trail, the southwest coast path, in order to raise funds for the Association which preserves it, and for Dementia UK. The coast path, which runs 630 miles along the coast from Poole to Minehead, is celebrating its 50th birthday this year, so it's my aim to produce 50 wild sketches while I'm walking - one for every year!

If you want to KNOW MORE, please read on. If you want to go straight to DONATING to either of my fund-raising pots, please click the DONATE to a TEAM MEMBER button on the right. It will show you my face twice (sorry!). If you click on the top one it will take you to the Southwest Coast Path Association donation page. The lower button will take you to the Dementia UK page.

I'm calling the trail the Creative Path, not just because it will be taking me on my own creative journey, but because I am also offering Creative Path workshops to communities along the way, encouraging more people to experience the joy of getting outside and being creative. At the end of the year, we plan to exhibit the pictures that have been created, in order to inspire others to also explore the path or pick up a sketchbook, and discover the benefits of both.

I feel very connected to the path. Starting from Poole where I got married, I will be walking towards Devon, where I grew up. From there, I head towards Penzance, where my father was born and, aged 23, left to go to war. Then I will continue on and up the north coast of Cornwall and Devon, passing through many of the spots my father took me as a child and where I, later, took my own children. There are some stretches that are particularly poignant for me. I know that walking from Sidmouth to Exeter will remind me very much of my mum. After an Alzheimer's diagnosis, she had to leave her Exeter home of 50 years to come and live with us in Dorset. We broke up the stress of the move by staying in Sidmouth for the night, and I have fond memories of us walking cliff paths there - the last time we did so together.

It is for these reasons that I'm fundraising for both Demential UK and The Southwest Coast Path Association. In supporting my fundraising efforts, you may choose to split your donation between the two charities, or opt to support just one. Please follow the links below to donate to whichever you choose.

The Southwest Coast Path Association is the charity which helps to protect and maintain all 630 miles of the trail, and is kindly supporting me in this project, so I am raising funds to help it continue its important work. It costs £945,000 a year just to keep this valuable path open, protected and in good shape. If you are someone who has walked it, cares about right to roam, and/or cares about protecting our coastline, then please consider donating what you can to help.

I am also raising money for Dementia UK which, as many of you will already know is a charity close to my heart. Their specially trained Admiral Nurses offer invaluable and informed support to people impacted by dementia via their free helpline, as well as in community, NHS and private care settings. No words can express how meaningful that help was for my mother, myself and my family throughout the six years we were struggling to navigate and adapt to the impact of dementia - and I will never forget that. Many of you will already had experience of living with dementia, or know someone who is. If so, you will understand how important it is that this sort of support is available. Please do support, if you can. THANK YOU.