Chasing Snails, Lands End to John O Groats
Donation protected
Greetings from the Land of Isolation
I am John Barrow, a man approaching 60, father of two amazing daughters and someone who has travelled the world in The Army and through my work as a television camera operator and occasional LED Technician. I have driven big trucks, flown single engine aeroplanes, fallen off horses, crashed cars, capsized dinghies and even been charged by wild elephant and rhino. Of course there are things that I haven’t done, like parachuting, horse whispering or walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats . . . which got me thinking . . . . .
. . . . . Covid-19 is hitting the media and entertainment industry hard - very hard; freelance workers and the self-employed are hurting and I have many friends and colleagues who are extremely worried; be it financial pressure or the mental strain on families and individuals, there are a lot of conscientious and hardworking people who, through no fault of their own, are having to face up to unprecedented issues, often with little or no support. I am sure that you, like me, have also been concerned that cancer and other patients with serious illnesses may have had to forego treatment and will need extra care when more normal times return. And I am also sure that you have been either helping or wondering how you can help.
Inspired by the incredible Captain Tom who by walking up and down his garden has raised almost £30m (that’s £300k for every length so far), I figured I might be able to raise cash for good causes too – even if only a fraction of the amount - by walking the length of the country. And in the process, I would highlight the particular issues facing people in my industry whose life blood is covering sporting and other public events; let’s face it, there haven’t been any events recently and many of those planned in 2020 won’t happen at all, even after lock-down ends.
So, when that happens, I am going to step out of my garden and onto the road and walk from Lands’ End to John O’ Groats. On the way I aim to raise money for three great causes
- The Film and Television Charity: https://filmtvcharity.org.uk
- MIND: https://www.mind.org.uk
- and Macmillan Cancer Support: https://www.macmillan.org.uk
I fear there is going to be a great demand for help with repairing damage done through depression, anxiety and stress to a great many people. The work these three charities do is generally for people at the very end of their tether and I know from personal experience that many less fortunate than myself are in that place right now and struggling to deal with mental and physical suffering of isolation and financial hardship.
Please will you help me to help people who are often unsung heroes in normal times and almost forgotten now? A donation of £10 would work out at a little less than a penny for each of the 1140 odd miles I intend to cover on my walk or 5p for every blister I expect to get! If you are able to make a donation – no matter how big or small – I thank you from the bottom of my soles.
I believe you do not need to add a tip to your donation and certainly not 15%.
I am John Barrow, a man approaching 60, father of two amazing daughters and someone who has travelled the world in The Army and through my work as a television camera operator and occasional LED Technician. I have driven big trucks, flown single engine aeroplanes, fallen off horses, crashed cars, capsized dinghies and even been charged by wild elephant and rhino. Of course there are things that I haven’t done, like parachuting, horse whispering or walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats . . . which got me thinking . . . . .
. . . . . Covid-19 is hitting the media and entertainment industry hard - very hard; freelance workers and the self-employed are hurting and I have many friends and colleagues who are extremely worried; be it financial pressure or the mental strain on families and individuals, there are a lot of conscientious and hardworking people who, through no fault of their own, are having to face up to unprecedented issues, often with little or no support. I am sure that you, like me, have also been concerned that cancer and other patients with serious illnesses may have had to forego treatment and will need extra care when more normal times return. And I am also sure that you have been either helping or wondering how you can help.
Inspired by the incredible Captain Tom who by walking up and down his garden has raised almost £30m (that’s £300k for every length so far), I figured I might be able to raise cash for good causes too – even if only a fraction of the amount - by walking the length of the country. And in the process, I would highlight the particular issues facing people in my industry whose life blood is covering sporting and other public events; let’s face it, there haven’t been any events recently and many of those planned in 2020 won’t happen at all, even after lock-down ends.
So, when that happens, I am going to step out of my garden and onto the road and walk from Lands’ End to John O’ Groats. On the way I aim to raise money for three great causes
- The Film and Television Charity: https://filmtvcharity.org.uk
- MIND: https://www.mind.org.uk
- and Macmillan Cancer Support: https://www.macmillan.org.uk
I fear there is going to be a great demand for help with repairing damage done through depression, anxiety and stress to a great many people. The work these three charities do is generally for people at the very end of their tether and I know from personal experience that many less fortunate than myself are in that place right now and struggling to deal with mental and physical suffering of isolation and financial hardship.
Please will you help me to help people who are often unsung heroes in normal times and almost forgotten now? A donation of £10 would work out at a little less than a penny for each of the 1140 odd miles I intend to cover on my walk or 5p for every blister I expect to get! If you are able to make a donation – no matter how big or small – I thank you from the bottom of my soles.
I believe you do not need to add a tip to your donation and certainly not 15%.
Organizer
John Barrow
Organizer
