A little bit about me... I'm Matt, husband, father, just about to hit 52, and the more I think about what I'm going to do, I know I have a screw loose somewhere!

Charlie's Wings has a personal connection to me with Charlie being my step-son, with the charity growing from strength to strength thanks to Charlie's amazing Mum, and my beutiful wife, Gemma. So for the last three years I've organised and ridden three long distant cycle rides for the charity in June, but this year it's been pushed back until the start of September. So there is a gap... and how do I fill that gap... Offa's Dyke!

I'm setting myself a stupidly insane 'solo' challenge on the 24th April to take on the full length of the Offa’s Dyke footpath to raise money for Charlie's Wings.

On average the walk is completed in 14 days, but I don't want to take the easy option (plus my wife wouldn't allow me to be away for so long!)...so 10 days is the target.

The Offa’s Dyke path is a 177 mile long trail that follows a spectacular Dyke that King Offa ordered to be constructed in the eighth century to divide his Kingdom then known as Mercia from rival Kingdoms in what is now Wales. The trail connects Sedbury Cliffs near Chepstow, on the banks of the Severn estuary to the coastal town of Prestatyn on the shores of the Irish sea. It passes through eight different counties and crosses the border between England and Wales more than twenty times. The path is recognized as one of Britain’s most historic and scenic long-distance trails, combining ancient history with diverse, rural landscapes.

Charlie's Wings is a Tamworth-based Community Interest Company (CIC) founded in 2022 in memory of our Charlie, offering support to young people aged 4-18 facing trauma, anxiety, and mental health challenges. The charity was established to create a lasting, positive legacy for local youth by offering a safe space for emotional support. Charlie's Wings provides personalised assistance tailored to individual needs, including:

Mental Health Support: One-to-one mentoring, therapeutic support, and counselling sessions both individually and within schools.

Educational Aid: Access to individual exam tuition and distribution of revision books.

Career & Life Guidance: Professional career guidance, work training, and specific support for young carers.

The Prom Initiative: A community program that offers new and nearly-new prom dresses at a fraction of the cost.

All money raised will be in aid of Charlie's Wings.

Please see how Charlie's Wings is helping