GlobalWelsh, the non-profit Welsh diaspora organisation, announces today that it’s founder and CEO Walter May is launching a fundraiser to raise funds for GlobalWelsh’s Charity Partner of the Year (2022-2023), Urdd Gobaith Cymru.
Setting off from Porto, Portugal, on 4th May, Walter will be walking a 196 mile coastal route along the Camino Portugues (Portuguese Camino), an ancient pilgrim’s route that runs along the Portuguese coast finally ending in Santiago de Compostela, the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, in northwestern Spain. These walks, carrying a sizeable backpack, are challenging and avoiding leg or foot injuries, especially blisters is a must. Walter hopes to complete the journey in 14 days.
Walter hopes to raise enough to fund a minimum of 20 Welsh children to attend an Urdd Summer Camp via the charity’s ‘Fund for All’. Fund for All, is a fund to ensure that every child in Wales gets the opportunity to enjoy a summer holiday, whatever their background or financial circumstance and offers full funding to attend summer camps for those from low-income households.
Walter will be joined on his journey by three fellow Welshman and Urdd mascot, Mr. Urdd and they will be documenting their journey across GlobalWelsh’s social media channels. He said:
“As someone born and raised in Pontypool, I’m well aware of the social and economic challenges that many of Wales’ former industrialised towns face. I am a huge supporter of the Urdd and the work they do to support young people in Wales to build confidence and aspiration. I am excited about this walk and hopefully we can raise enough money to give twenty young people a unique and life-changing experience this summer.”
Since the 1930s, tens of thousands of young people in Wales have attended Urdd summer camps at the Urdd’s centres in Glan-Llyn, Llangrannog or Cardiff. These camps offer unforgettable experiences to children right across Wales. Sian Lewis, CEO at Urdd Gobaith Cymru, said:
“We’ve loved the support from GlobalWelsh as its Charity Partner of the Year in our centenary year of 2022 and delighted to be rounding it off with this exciting fundraiser. Sadly, 29% of children in Wales live in poverty which means that not every child gets to experience a summer holiday. In the Urdd, we want to ensure that every child in Wales gets the opportunity to make lifelong memories on an unforgettable summer holiday.
‘We know that hundreds, if not thousands, of the Welsh diaspora will have attended one of our centres in their youth and look back fondly on these memories. This is a chance to give another child the chance to do the same. We look forward to following Walter and Mr. Urdd on their journey! Pob lwc!”
