I’m back. On the path.

So after trekking the couple of hundred miles from North Somerset through beautiful Northern Devon to the Cornwall border I took some months off to deal with life. You know the stuff that comes along, that we wouldn’t always want…the stuff that tests us and makes us human.

And I’m back. I’m thankful to my work for giving me a month’s sabbatical to walk around the whole of Cornwall (only 330 miles) over the next 20 days!!! Just writing it makes think 3 things …

1) Wowsers!! 2) Oh heck! 3) Thankful

Why? Some will know I spend much time with Freddy my 5 year old nephew who has Down’s Syndrome.

So I’ve decided to do what I love…walking (I get to work in the world of sport and physical activity and role modelling this feels important – I believe there is transformative power in moving-more). But more-so I’m going to raise awareness and funds for Down’s Syndrome Association UK https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/

Freddy is the most active and caring little dude you could meet. He is a joy bringer. You will find him either running, jumping, climbing, walking or playing football. So with the help of wifey Niky …Aunty Kiky to Fred… Uncle Gar is hitting the path in the land of Celts, Clay and Classic Pasties … Cornwall. The place of his birth.

Around 1 in every 1000 babies born in the UK will have Down’s Syndrome. It is caused by the chance presence of an extra chromosome in the cells of the baby around time of conception. Down’s Syndrome occurs in all races, religions, gender, cultures and socio-economic situations. People with Down’s Syndrome will have a learning disability affecting their ability to learn but it equally doesn’t mean they cannot learn. In fact Freddy recently learned to ride his bike with stabilisers and went on the Camel trail with Adam his his Dad and Cathryn his mum (my sis) and had an awesome time.

Thanks to the work of Down’s Syndrome Association UK and Dr Liam Fox MP there will be a bill introduced to government that could result in a Down’s Syndrome Act and National Strategy leading to improved provision and outcomes for those living with Down’s Syndrome in the UK. This is so important at a time where the ideal of ‘compassion and care’ and ‘supportive social systems’ for those who could benefit most is an absolute foundation to a thriving society. The more selfless in all aspects of our professional and everyday lives we are the more we will tackle inequality and will thrive. However the opposite is true if we cannot find any balance and become wholly about power and self.

Contentious? I’ll just leave that one there.

So where does it all start? Back at Hartland Quay where I left the trail at the end of last year. And then onto 30 odd legs of walking … with the help of the amazing Niky aka Cato Fong (read other blogs for more on this).

I’d love it if you were up for following the story. On here. Or on http://www.facebook.com/walkforfred and if you felt compelled to give a few £ then you can find the just giving site here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Gareth-Dix where I’ll also post updates.

And for a final thought here’s one learning from Fred. ‘Celebrate like Ronaldo’. Fred saw footballer Ronaldo on TV scoring … he learned to emulate his celebration, every-time Fred kicks a ball he’ll celebrate, no matter which goal the ball lands in. Fred’s goal has become the celebration. We could learn loads from that.

Take care and keep in touch….until next time…and the first path-blog of the next 4 weeks… adeus.