Maddie rocks!!
Maddie Rock is walking the South West Coast Path from Minehead to Poole and is raising money for In Jolly Good Company along the way. Here she explains in her own words her reasons for this and what her journey entails. If you would like to support Maddie and donate to us in the process, please visit our DONATE page to find out how you can do this. Thank you in advance 🙏🏼😀
IN MADDIE’S WORDS…
I stopped work at the start of this year having decided I needed to take some time out for myself. I was mentally exhausted both by work and personal circumstances. When people asked me ‘what are you going to do?’ I answered, ‘I don’t know yet - just walk and draw and see what happens.’
After a month or two, the idea of walking the South West Coast Path and sketching along the way began to percolate through my mind. I had already walked two-thirds of it twenty years before with my boyfriend at the time and it had always been my wish to complete it. My plan was to set off in April, on my birthday but this of course was scuppered by the pandemic.
And so, my adventure was delayed, until restrictions eased, and I finally set off on 9th August from Minehead - fully intending to walk the 630 miles to Poole in about two to three months. It’s turning into an extraordinary journey. I’ve always been a walker but carrying a huge pack with all my kit in is a physical challenge I’ve never faced before. And the day-after-day hiking...and the doing it alone with no one but myself to soldier me through the tough times.
I have everything I need with me in my pack on my back...including my ‘desert island’ luxury of a sketchbook and ink pen. I’m meeting so many different people, collecting stories, sketching and taking photos. It’s a truly inspirational experience that I hope will feed into a body of artworks when I finally reach home.
As I’ve progressed, many people, friends and strangers, have asked if I’m raising money for a charity and expressed a wish to make a donation. Having given this much thought I have decided I would like to raise funds for the brilliant ‘In Jolly Good Company’ that provides much needed and creative services for people living with dementia.
It’s been my privilege to work with its founder, Sarah Rampton, a few times down on the Kingston Lacy ‘Step Outside’ allotment project. It is clear to see that being in the outdoors, gardening and painting together in a small supportive group, really does have the power to heal and bring joy into people’s lives.
I would love for any money I raise to go to In Jolly Good Company to help ensure that this vital community work can continue to make such a huge difference.
