Julie completes her walking challenge for the AFIA Caravan and raises £1,000.

When the purchase of a new AFIA Caravan was discussed by the Trustees in autumn 2021, fundraising was also discussed. One suggestion was that the Trustees be sponsored to whizz along the zip wire at ‘Zip World’ in Hirwaun but three 80 year old members put them to shame by beating them to it !

Julie Davies, one of the Elected Trustees, who had no desire to zoom along at 70mph dangling on a thin wire high above the ground, decided to put her daily walks to good use.  Julie challenged herself to walk 1,000 miles in 2022 in aid of the AFIA Caravan.   Starting early on New Year’s Day she set out on her first walk – she needed to average just under 3 miles every day to complete her challenge.  Charting her progress on a map of the UK, one county for each 10 miles completed.  Rain or shine she was out every morning, (well most mornings – isolating with COVID and suffering with a nasty virus stopped her walking for almost 8 weeks), but Julie was determined to complete her challenge & finished with 2 weeks to spare!

Julie states

“In geographical terms, I walked 1,000 miles (and a little bit more) which is not quite the circumference of Wales which would be 1047 miles.  Land’s End to John O’Groats is 874 miles (although the map I coloured in has the UK’s 100 traditional counties & Crown Dependencies). I walked further than ¼ way to the centre of the earth (980 miles) & very nearly 1/24th circumference of the earth (1038).

On the most part it was enjoyable although forcing myself to go out in all weathers was a challenge!”

A Big thank you to Mothers’ Union members, worshipers in the Garth Ministry Area, friends and family who helped her raise an amazing £1,000. 

Well done and thank you Julie!