Suzanne Coates
My Story
Background
I love a challenge, pushing boundaries and breaking limits - nothing is impossible!
I have had the privilege of working in an environment that sees raw life, where nothing is hidden from sight and the reality sometimes hard to face.
I do believe that working together with others who hold a common aim and purpose together achieve change. The areas of safeguarding and prevention are not just words but when put into practice can transform lives.
Working with street kids has been on my heart for many years as well as Central and South America. Sometime between 1998 and 2001 there were stories coming out of Honduras and Brazil of the horrors street kids were facing and I followed the stories through other non- profit organisations who were trying to affect change in very difficult circumstances. I became aware of street kids direct over the years and have been interested in the projects and work they do as they not only deal with kids physically on the street but also support - schooling, family life, health. Focusing on prevention is key. Also reading the success stories, it’s not about a quick fix but about long term change, a new direction in life, a chance of a life with opportunities and choice.
So to my challenge ..........
I plan on walking the length of the UK, Lands End to John O’Groats using as many national trails and long distance footpaths as I can. I was planning to do this as one epic adventure but due to covid which has affected us all I have decided to bring the trip forward and attempt it in stages using whatever leave I can.
Total mileage on paper is 1428 and I would like to raise a pound a mile, so allowing for diversions rounded up to 1500.
The route:
SW coast path south side Lands End to Plymouth, Wembury 170 miles
Lands End to Helford completed 13/7/20 to 18/7/20 72.29 miles 9384 ft elevation gain
Helford Passage to Gorran Haven completed 8-10/8/20 38.51 miles 5546 ft elevation gain
Gorran Haven to Par completed 18/8/20 17.22 miles 2881 ft elevation gain
Par to Wembury Beach completed 7-12/9/20 59.43 miles 7983 ft elevation gain
Total mileage 187.45 and 25794 ft elevation gain
Devon coast to coast incorporating the Erme Plym trail and The Two Moors Way, Wembury to Lynmouth 117 miles
Erme Plym Trail completed 19/9/20 15.05 miles 1889 ft elevation gain
Two Moors Way completed 21/9/20 to 27/9/20 104.84 miles 12529 ft elevation gain
Total mileage 119.89 and 14418ft elevation gain
SW coast path north side Lynnouth to Minehead 22 miles
Lynmouth to Porlock Weir completed 15/9/20 12.19 miles 2388 ft elevation gain
Porlock Weir to Minehead completed 16/9/20 10.46 miles 1230 ft elevation gain
Total mileage 22.65 and 3618 ft elevation gain
Somerset Way, Minehead to Bath 116 miles
Minehead to Langport completed 17-19/10/20 55.94 miles 4923 ft elevation gain
Cotswold Way, Bath to Chipping Campden 102 miles
Heart of England Way, Boughton on the Water to Cannock Chase 101 miles (overlap with Cotswold Way)
Cannock Chase Heritage trail, Cannock Chase to Rugeley 10 miles
Staffordshire Link, Rugeley to Thorpe 27 miles
White Peak Way circular (part of) Thorpe to Edale 35 miles
Pennine Way, Edale to Kirk Yetholm 268 miles
Scottish National trail, Kirk Yetholm to Milngavie 143 miles
West Highland Way, Milngavie to Fort William 96 miles
Great Glen coast to coast, Fort William to Inverness 74 miles
John O'Groats coastal walking trail, Inverness to John O'Groats 147 miles
It's begun .........13/7/20
This big adventure has started and is going to be made up of many micro adventures.
Each micro adventure will have its own set of unique challenges and that's what will make it brilliant! 😀
Please ignore any reference to cycling this is definitely on foot (using a cycling specific Garmin which requires editing)
Update
To everyone, thank you so much for your support so far and for following me on SKD webpage and FB, it means a lot. I am happy to say that with just over a ¼ of the LEJOG challenge complete the target set for the entire journey to support Street Kids Direct in Guatamala has been exceeded. 124% £1854 raised. I have therefore decided to end the current support to Street Kids. I know that the money received has been used to help the most vulnerable by feeding them and giving them shelter and ongoing mentoring support. I trust the work will continue to grow and develop and so pleased that I could play just a small part towards it all.