A YOUNG farmer who set herself the challenge of walking “100 Miles in March” had already raised more than £1,000 for charity on the first day of the month.
Katie Jack is secretary and treasurer of Callington Young Farmers Club, and as well as studying for an agricultural apprenticeship at Duchy College, she works at the Tavistock branch of Mole Valley Farmers.
The 18-year-old has chosen to support the Merlin MS Centre based at Hewas Water, near St Austell. Katie’s dad Bruce was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2006, and has had various kinds of support from the centre in the years since. The Young Farmers Club had also made the MS Centre a nominated charity last year, but it was not as easy as they would have liked to organise fundraising events due to the lockdowns, said Katie’s mum Angie, and so Katie took up the mantle.
“She does an awful lot of steps during her day at work, but she says she wants to do the 100 Miles separately from this,” said Angie.
“So she will probably be doing three four-mile circuits of Callington after work in the evenings and some longer walks on her weekends off.”
Katie said that she had taken on the challenge “to keep herself occupied outside of work and seeing as the pubs are currently closed”.
“My Dad was diagnosed with MS back in 2006 and over the years he has been lucky enough to benefit from support and treatment provided by the Merlin MS Centre,” she said. “The centre is funded by charitable donations and, like many other charities, they have seen a decrease in donations due to the current pandemic, and their income has dropped dramatically.
“I would like to raise some money for them so that they may continue the great work that they do for so many people.
“I am hoping to walk every day during March and Dad has promised that he will roll along beside me whenever he can.”
Some of the support Bruce has been able to benefit from has included use of the oxygen chamber at the MS Centre, physiotherapy, and advice from staff about devising exercise routines.
“It’s also about the support of having someone there you can pick up the phone and talk to,” Angie explains.
The MS Centre offers a range of affordable and subsidised services to people in Cornwall, including clinical services, hydrotherapy and oxygen therapy, counselling, complimentary therapies and massage.
Katie has raised almost £1,300 so far towards her £1,500 target. To support her challenge and the Merlin MS Centre, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/katie-jack1