Jim’s Journey page – https://overandabove.org.uk/jimsjourney/
A FORMER communications manager for the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust is preparing to walk 630 miles along the entire South West Coast Path this summer to raise money for two local charities that support cancer patients and their families.
Jim Bray left his job with the Trust last month to take up an eight-week challenge entitled Jim’s Journey.
The 36-year-old will be raising money for the Seamoor Unit, the new £2.5million chemotherapy and day treatment centre at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple, and Exeter-based charity FORCE.
Jim will set off from Minehead in Somerset this Friday (10 June) and is due to climb more than 115,000 feet (nearly four times the height of Mount Everest), cross 288 bridges, catch 13 ferries, pass around 3,500 coast path signs and go up or down over 30,000 steps before reaching the finish at Poole Harbour in Dorset on Thursday 4 August.
He will be charting his journey with a daily photo diary on Facebook.
“I didn’t used to like walking or appreciate the benefits of it but after a spell of ill health towards the end of last year I was encouraged to walk more to help me get better,” said Jim, who lives in Sampford Peverell, near Tiverton.
“This year I’ve done a brisk walk for half an hour every day as well as a longer trek in Devon or Somerset once or twice a week, and I now feel fitter, healthier and stronger.
“I’ve enjoyed exploring nature, including coasts, moors and rivers, and like to take photos as I go, partly to try to inspire other people to get out and see the amazing scenery on our doorstep.
“I’ve experienced some of the Coast Path walks around Hartland, Heddon’s Mouth, Lynmouth and Porlock on the north coast and Noss Mayo, Salcombe, Ladram Bay and Branscombe on the south coast, and each one has a magic and intrigue that helps to cleanse the soul.
“I’m looking forward to exploring more dramatic cliffs and rock formations, secret coves, picturesque harbours and tranquil estuaries, knowing that every step I take will help to raise money for two excellent local charities and support patients and families affected by cancer.”
Jim joined the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust in 2012 and helped to promote the Chemotherapy Appeal – the fundraising campaign that enabled the Seamoor Unit to be built – as well as the official opening of the centre by HRH The Earl of Wessex last September.
He said: “I saw at first hand how fundraising can make such a phenomenal difference to the lives of patients receiving cancer treatment, and I was keen to do my bit as part of a big personal challenge.”
The Seamoor Unit Fund is a leading appeal run by Over and Above, the Trust’s charity.
Ian Roome, fundraising manager for Over and Above, said: “Jim’s Journey will be an incredible experience and our fundraising team and volunteers are looking forward to joining him on parts of the route.
“His fundraising will help to buy specialist medical equipment and bring in more support services such as aromatherapy treatments to enhance patient care in the Seamoor Unit.”
FORCE provides physical, emotional, psychological and practical assistance to patients and their families from its Support and Information Centre in the grounds of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
The charity supports patients from across Devon, with some travelling from Somerset, Dorset and Cornwall to access its services.
It also funds local research and buys specialist equipment to improve diagnosis and treatment.
FORCE is the 2016 Captain’s Charity at Tiverton Golf Club, where Jim has been a member since he was nine years old.
Naomi Cole, community fundraiser for FORCE, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Jim for choosing FORCE as one of the charities to benefit from his fundraising this summer, and would like to wish him all the very best as he takes on the beautiful but challenging South West Coast Path walk.
“FORCE has spent the last 29 years working to help local cancer patients and their families.
“During 2016 we need to raise funds to meet commitments of £1.2million and as all of our work continues to rely entirely on voluntary donations, the support of fundraisers like Jim really is vital.
“We’re looking forward to hearing about Jim’s progress and no doubt admiring photos of some of the stunning coastline along the way.”
Jim is a member of the South West Coast Path Association, a charity that promotes the Path and raises funds to pay for vital improvements and repairs.
Esther Pearson, director of the Association, said: “Walking the Coast Path is regarded by many as a walk of a lifetime and I’m sure this will be the case for Jim’s Journey.
“The most popular stories our members enjoy reading in our newsletters are the inspirational accounts from those who have completed all 630 miles and the ups and downs it entails.
“It’s not for the faint-hearted, that’s for sure, but it’s a challenge that reaps rewards with memories that will stay with him for many years to come.”
Jim’s 56-day expedition will include 52 days of walking, at an average of over 12 miles a day, and four rest days.
The former Blundell’s School student will be staying in B&Bs, inns and hotels and is funding the trip himself, enabling all money raised to be split 50-50 between the two charities.
To sponsor Jim, visit his Virgin Money Giving page at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JimsJourney.
Individuals, businesses or groups who are interested in joining Jim for a section of his journey, organising their own walking challenge, offering commercial sponsorship or donating a prize for fundraising activities throughout the summer are asked to call him on 07425 133606 or e-mail him at jims.journey@outlook.com.
People can follow his progress and see his daily photo diary by liking the Jim’s Journey page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Jims-Journey-1102417966497648, or catch regular updates on Twitter via @Jims_Journey.
To see photos of the walks Jim has already completed this year, visit the Discovering Devon, Somerset and beyond page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/discoveringdevonsomersetandbeyond.
More information
Business Partners
Jim would like to thank the following businesses for kindly agreeing to sponsor Jim’s Journey.
As a Business Buddy, they are all making a direct financial contribution to FORCE and Over and Above to help enhance services for local cancer patients and their families.
If you’re interested in becoming a Business Buddy, please call Jim on 07425 133606 or e-mail him at jims.journey@outlook.com.
Business Buddies
James Pryce Tractors (Tiverton); Travis Perkins (Tiverton); Gregory Distribution Ltd (Cullompton); Frobishers Juices (Exeter); Cult Pens (Tiverton)
Accommodation Partners
Jim would like to thank the following hotels, inns and B&B providers for kindly agreeing to sponsor Jim’s Journey by offering him either free or discounted accommodation.
Gold Sponsors
Lynton (Day 2) – Rockvale; Combe Martin (Day 3) – Mellstock House; Woolacombe (Day 4) – The Rocks Hotel; Braunton (Day 5) – Burrows B&B; Clovelly (Day 8) – Southdown Cottage; Clovelly (Day 9) – The Old Police House; Bude (Days 10 and 11) – The Beach at Bude; Tintagel (Day 13) – The Port William Inn; Port Isaac (Day 14) – Lane End Farm; Padstow (Day 15) – Armsyde B&B; Portreath (Day 19) – The Portreath Arms; St Ives (Day 20) – The Garrack Hotel; St Ives (Day 21) – Boskerris Hotel; St Ives (Day 22) – Regent Hotel; Pendeen (Day 23) – The Old Chapel; Marazion (Day 26) – The Trevelyan Arms; The Lizard (Day 28) – Enoch Vean; Coverack (Day 29) – Boak House; Helford Passage (Day 30) – Budock Vean Hotel; Falmouth (Day 31) – The Royal Duchy Hotel; Portloe (Day 32) – Carradale; Mevagissey (Day 33) – Stone’s Throw Cottage; Par (Day 34) – The Par Inn; Polperro (Days 35 and 36) – The Cottles B&B and Holiday Apartments; Portwrinkle (Day 37) – The Bungalow; Salcombe (Day 41) – Victoria Inn; Stokenham (Day 42) – Stokenham House; Babbacombe (Day 45) – Babbacombe Bay Hotel; Sidmouth (Day 48) – The Mount Pleasant Hotel; Seaton (Day 49) – Mariners; Chideock (Day 50) – Broadlands; Abbotsbury (Day 51) – Peach’s; Weymouth (Days 52 and 53) – B+B Weymouth; West Lulworth (Day 54) – Burngate Farm; Langton Matravers (Day 55) – Langton Manor Farmhouse
Silver Sponsors
Westward Ho! (Day 7) – Culloden House; Perranporth (Day 18) – Atlantic View Hotel
Accommodation Partners
St Merryn (Day 16) – Farmers Arms; Noss Mayo (Day 39) – Worswell Barton
FORCE
- For more information about FORCE, visit forcecancercharity.co.uk
- Visit the Jim’s Journey page at forcecancercharity.co.uk/event/jims-journey
Over and Above
- For more information about Over and Above and the Seamoor Unit Fund, visit overandabove.org.uk
- Visit the Jim’s Journey page at overandabove.org.uk/jimsjourney
South West Coast Path
- The South West Coast Path passes through five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), 17 heritage coasts, a National Park (Exmoor), two World Heritage Sites (the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape and the Jurassic Coast in East Devon and Dorset), a UNESCO Geopark in Torbay and Britain’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in North Devon
- It is the only walk in the UK to feature in Lonely Planet’s Book of Great Adventures, alongside 11 hikes spread across the globe
- It has been listed as the UK’s best walking route by the likes of Walk magazine, Coast magazine and Country Walking
South West Coast Path Association
- It costs just £20 a year for a single or £25 for a joint membership of the South West Coast Path Association. Among other things, members receive an annual guide book, a spring and autumn newsletter, e-newsletters and discounts and special offers in the South West Coast Path shop and at selected retail outlets. Memberships are also available for small, medium and large businesses. For more information, visit southwestcoastpath.org.uk.
Jim Bray
- Jim attended the former Caroline Brewin First School in Tiverton and Ravenswood Prep School in Stoodleigh before taking GCSEs and A-levels at Blundell’s School in Tiverton. Keen on a career as a sports journalist, he became a production trainee at BBC Radio Devon in 1999 before joining his local newspaper, the Mid Devon Gazette series, in 2000. Jim worked at the Gazette as a news and sport reporter, sub-editor and sports editor until 2006. After a temporary spell at the Wellington Weekly News and Taunton Times, he worked as a sub-editor for Newsquest South West from 2007 to 2009, designing pages for the Somerset County Gazette, Taunton Star, Bridgwater Mercury, Bridgwater Star, Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News, Chard and Ilminster News, Yeovil Express and Mid Devon Star. Jim has also worked as a commercial manager for Tiverton Town Football Club, a cover supervisor at Tiverton High School, an information officer for the Blackdown Hills AONB Partnership and a tournament administrator for the Professional Golfers’ Association. He is a five-time club champion at Tiverton Golf Club, where he has represented the first team for many years and served as junior captain, press officer and social committee chairman.
