Natalia Spencer is nearing the end of her long journey around the coastline of Britain. I met up with her on Sunday January 22 as she arrived in Rye Harbour. She and her co-walkers Eric, Agnes and Rachel all came back for a coffee and a warm by the fire. When you meet Natalia you are humbled by her perseverance and sheer guts. To walk over 6000 miles in all weathers and sometimes on her own is surely daunting – but not to Natalia:
“Since the sad passing of my beautiful daughter, Elizabeth, aged five, I have been absolutely distraught and, as a result, I decided to focus my energy positively into a year-long walk around Britain’s Coastline.
“I started from Durdle Door in Dorset, walking in a clockwise direction, and finishing back at Durdle Door, hopefully in time for the anniversary of Elizabeth’s passing. This beach is emotionally significant to me as it is the last seaside location I visited with her.
“I desperately want to do something to help others, which will not only give purpose to my life, but allow Elizabeth’s memory to be enshrined in people’s minds. The funds raised will support a worthy cause that actively helps critically ill children.”
Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity and to which funds raised by Natalia will go, provides cutting edge, life-saving equipment, family accommodation and arts, music and play therapy for patients and their families at the hospital. Since 1995, The Grand Appeal has raised over £35 million to transform the lives of sick babies and children at the Hospital and Special Care Baby Unit
www.justgiving.com/Natalia-Spencer
Follow the progress over the last few weeks on Facebook and if you have friends in these areas please let them know so they can walk a little way with Natalia.
Elizabethsfootprint on Facebook
Photos: kt Bruce