Long-distance walker Karen Penny to re-start her 20,000 mile coastal challenge
Research UK champion Karen Penny is set to re-start her amazing 20,000 mile coastal walk around the UK and Ireland on 10 August 2020.
Karen, 54, had been travelling continuously for 13 months on foot from her home in the Gower, South Wales before the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to return home in March. She had walked 6,405 miles and reached the UK’s northern-most point, in the Shetland Islands, where she placed an Alzheimer’s Research UK flag to mark the point at which she had to break off her incredible journey.
Inspired to support the UK’s leading dementia charity after both of her in-laws were affected by different forms of dementia, Karen has not rested on her laurels while under lockdown back home.
Karen says: “I have tried to use my time away from walking as productively as possible. As well as helping out with deliveries to vulnerable or shielding people in my community, I have put together a calendar with some of the beautiful images that I took on the 13 months of my journey so far, which I will shortly be putting on sale for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
“I’ve also been keeping myself fit by taking lots of walks around the beautiful Gower coastline, as well as enjoying spending some quality time with my husband and elderly cat Bilbo, who I thought I might never see again!
“Although it’s been nice to catch up with things at home, I’m nevertheless itching to get started again. On my walk I met so many wonderful people who were as keen as I am to support Alzheimer’s Research UK. Sadly, one in two people know someone who has been affected by dementia, so everywhere I went I met people with their own stories to share.”
Since setting off on 14 January 2019, Karen had already walked the entire coast of the island of Ireland and the whole of the Welsh coastal path, and more than 20 Scottish Islands.
She has raised almost £62,000 towards vital dementia research for Alzheimer’s Research UK, money that is even more crucial in these challenging times for all charities.
Ian Wilson, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We are delighted that Karen is now able to safely re-start her impressive journey.
“There are 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia. Sadly, people with dementia have also been some of the hardest hit by COVID-19, underlining the urgent need for life-changing treatments for dementia.
“Research has the power to make breakthroughs possible and Alzheimer’s Research UK is at the forefront of these efforts. We rely on public donations to fund our crucial research and it’s thanks to the commitment of people like Karen that we are able to increase the profile of dementia research and continue our important work.”
To sponsor Karen, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thepennyrollson
For further information about Alzheimer’s Research UK call 0300 111 5555 or visit www.alzheimersresearchuk.org
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