For many years I have thought about walking the Camino de Santiago from St Jean Pied du Port in France to Santiago de Compostella in Spain.  A 500 mile trek across the Pyrenees.  For someone who generally gets the car out to go to the corner shop, definitely a bit of a challenge!  

I have finally decided to actually do this and combine it with fundraising for a close-to-home charity, of which more below.  Every penny given goes to the charity, obviously I am funding all my own costs for this six week jaunt across the mountains which begins in France on August 23rd 2016. and ends over one million steps later on 1st October.  

STEPS is a very small charity supporting children and adults with lower limb issues such as clubfoot or hip problems. Unless you, or someone close to you, has experienced a lower limb deficiency firsthand, you won’t have come across STEPS, and consequently they struggle for support.

STEPS is an invaluable resource, particularly for parents who are struggling to find support and help. They are a friendly ear when you need one but also a source of information if you need a assistance with medical definitions, obtaining second opinions or just reassurance that you are not alone.

Two of my ten amazing grandchildren were born with Club Feet (Congenital Bilateral Talipes). Clubfeet can ordinarily be corrected using the Ponsetti Treatment but in some cases this just doesn’t work despite everyone’s best efforts, as happened with one of them, Finn. He is only 8 and has already had three corrective surgeries and has been left with a limp, some quite serious cosmetic damage to his foot and problems with his hip caused by over compensating. Oscar, who is 2, was in plaster for months and sleeps in “boots and bars”. Children with Club Feet often develop early onset arthritis and are in pain whenever they over exert themselves.

Club Feet affects one in a thousand children in the UK. STEPS offers confidential advice and support to people affected by hip dysplasia, clubfoot and other lower limb conditions.   They are the UK’s ONLY national charity which supports ALL lower limb conditions.
STEPS offers a wide range of services (many free of charge) to help and support family, friends and individuals. They are continually developing resources to reach more families and raise awareness of the conditions they support.

So, please help me raise as much as possible for this worthwhile cause. Your support is greatly appreciated.