The Walk for Life event set to return to Porthcawl this month, with the walk scheduled for Sunday 29th April.
The walk will begin at The Seagull Inn, Westpark Drive at 11am before heading onto the sea front, the coastal path and the lifeboat station before looping back. The location of the walk means that participants will get the opportunity to take in some of the most beautiful views on the South Wales coast.
Over 30 years old, the Walk for Life is one of Kidney Wales’ longest running events and is a key element of the charity’s strategy for raising vital funds for taking on the challenges of life with kidney disease.
The walk is to be led by local fundraiser Jean Schofield, alongside Judith French.
Jean’s passion for supporting Kidney Wales comes from a very personal experience, after she donated her own kidney to her son – a former UK Surfing Champion – Mark in 1990.
Mark and Jean share the same rare blood type, making her a perfect donor. However, the experience made her aware of just how important greater public understanding is of the effects that kidney disease can have on an individual.
Alongside being an organiser for the Walk for Life, Jean has played a role in organising numerous events to fundraise for Kidney Wales, including a recent silent auction that raised over £500.Her exploits have seen her receive a British Empire Medal, in acknowledgement to her outstanding contribution to the field of kidney research.
Kidney Wales Director, Nic Clarke, said:
“We’d like to thank all those taking part in the Walk for Life in Porthcawl. These annual events, held nationwide across Wales by dedicated local supporters, help us raise awareness of kidney diseases and the work our charity does throughout the year to improve the lives of kidney patients and their families, by improving the standard of care and life-saving treatments right here in Wales.
“We are a Welsh charity and every penny that is raised through our Walk for Life events will go towards helping kidney patients right here in Wales.”
Further information on the Porthcawl Walk for Life is available at https://www.kidneywales.cymru/get-involved/find-an-event/porthcawl-walk-life/
