Over the course of 2023, our Warehouse Manager Ian and his wife Dawn, have been tackling sections of the South West Coast Path in support of their 14 year old Daughter Olive, who is attempting to walk the entire 630 mile trail from Poole to Minehead before the end of the year. Olive is raising money to secure a place on a 2024 School Charity Trip:
“Picture this. You and your family live in a shack on a dump site with no beds, no electricity, no nothing. Just each other. This is not you but it is someone. Many people actually. They can’t do anything about it, but I can. WE can. In the summer of 2024, I will be travelling to Kenya with Tiverton High School. We will be helping to turn an abandoned building into a school so that the children in Kenya can be educated.” – Olive Everett-Kelway. Year 9 Student. Tiverton High School
With plenty of kit from the Taunton Leisure demo pools they have made it from Poole to Penzance so far, chipping away at the route on weekend escapes and half term getaways, they have made great progress so far, through all kinds of weather. As the Walk has got further from home and into Cornwall they have been utilising the train service, trying to lessen the use of the car, this certainly involves more planning, but the reward is the amazing views along the south Devon coast and into Cornwall.
We thought we would share some of the amazing images so far from the walk and share the Link to Olives Go Fund Me, where you can donate and read all the updates to far, it is a great resource for those who might want to do the route.
We have been really impressed with the determination to complete this such a big challenge from someone so young, we think probably one of the youngest people to complete it. If 630 miles is not impressive enough, there is 115,000ft of ascent, that is like scaling Mount Everest 4 times!
Plenty of nights under Canvas
Tents tested so far From Hilleberg, Big Agnes and Bach. Hopefully they get to use a few more over the summer and get some more great pictures.
Super Dad Ian making sure Olive is able to complete the walk
A big shout out to Ian and Dawn, who have been doing the challenge alongside their daughter, organising all the transport and routes, carrying a heavy pack, and making sure Olive’s feet don’t get wet during river crossings!
If you would like to donate to Olives cause and read more on why she is doing this amazing challenge you can do so below:
Olive’s long walk to Kenya Fundraiser
