Tracey’s marathon walk to boost fund raising for learning disability service
Patients with a learning disability from Coventry and Warwickshire will benefit, when a Director of a local NHS Trust realises a lifetime ambition, this year.
Tracey Wrench, Director of Nursing and Quality for Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, aims to undertake a gruelling 500-mile walk through the Spanish hills during two holiday periods this year, starting in July.
Tracey, with her husband Simon, will be aiming to raise funds for Ashby House, a seven-bed respite care centre in Bramcote, north Warwickshire. Ashby House is a purpose built service, which provides respite care for people with a severe learning disability, associated conditions and mental health needs.
The centre aim to develop a new sensory garden for their most disabled clients with the proceeds.
Clients with a learning disability come to Ashby House from across Warwickshire for short breaks to enable their family to have a break from caring for them. Often they have profound physical as well learning disabilities.
Tracey and Simon have always wanted to take on a challenging walk, but have never previously had the opportunity.
They have decided to take on a journey starting in the French Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela in north west Spain.
But the lure of the spiritual as well as physical challenge of the Camino Frances has helped them decide that this year is the right time.
The route is one of a number known as the Way of St James, and is linked to ancient pilgrimage routes.
A typical walk takes around four weeks, so Tracey has decided to break up their ambitious tour into two separate visits this year, starting in July, and then in October.
She said: “We have always wanted to do a walk like this. It is a long way, but we have been getting some practice in!
“I am delighted to have an opportunity to raise funds for Ashby House. It is really important work that they do, and we know the garden they plan to develop will bring real benefits for their patients. I hope we will be able to make a really significant contribution to the cost of the project, and we will certainly be urging all our friends and family to support this great cause.”
You can support Tracey by donating at her Just Giving account:https://www.justgiving.com/TraceyWrench/ and follow her progress at her blog:http://llpone.tumblr.com/