March Postie set to deliver for charity with challenges 11 and 12 this summer

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https://www.fenlandcitizen.co.uk/news/m ... a-9258514/

March Postie Nick Winterton is set to take on two gruelling challenges to raise cash for a cause close to his heart.

The father of two is planning to undertake the Race to the Stones event in July and then the Thames Path Challenge in September.

They will be his 11th and 12th challenges to date having completed 10 hikes for charity and raised over £16,000 for various good causes in the past including Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.

This year he is once again raising money for the Dyspraxia Foundation, a charity which provides vital support from birth to adulthood for those with the complex and lifelong neurological condition. The charity was originally founded in 1987 by two mothers who met at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for sick children.

Nick said: "After being told their children had Dyspraxia they were astonished and dismayed to discover no facilities existed to help or inform parents and children with the condition. They decided to form their own group to help others to help themselves. The condition is surprisingly common in children and adults. It is a hidden condition and is still poorly understood.

“Dyspraxia is common in my own family so I see first hand the difficulties it brings on a daily basis. The Dyspraxia Foundation have phone support, organise conferences with guest speakers, events and workshops all over the UK.


“This inspired me to raise awareness as not all disabilities are visible, but can still have a massive impact on everyday life. Not everyone will have heard of Dyspraxia or know much about the condition and the key is to keep people talking otherwise things soon become out of sight, out of mind.

“The Foundation has a vision of a world where the condition is recognised and understood and not a barrier to opportunity and fulfilment. They need extra funding to help them do this and I’m more than happy to help.

"With the cost of living crisis upon us I haven’t really set any real targets for the fundraising side of things. People have been asking me every week if I’m doing anything this year, so its great to be attempting two more of the hardest challenges in the UK.

"They are both 62 mile continuous hikes. The only stops are for comfort breaks, refreshments and medical treatment. Target times set by the organisers is usually around 24-33 hours."

The Race to the Stones 100km (62 miles) on July 9 and 10 starts in Lewknor, Oxfordshire and finishes in Avebury at the neolithic stone monument and is organised by the Threshold Series.

The Thames Path Challenge 100km (62 miles) on September 10 and 11 and starts in Fulham and ends in Henley-On- Thames and is organised by Action Challenge.

Nick added: "Everyone knows I love doing these challenges so it's a win win situation for me. It's that kindness, goodwill and generosity that keeps me going year after year.

“It will be the first time since 2017 I have had any challenges in the South. There will be less hills but that in itself brings other problems like using the same muscles over and over again with potential blisters and possible hot weather also in the mix. They are called ultra challenges for a reason none are easy and a massive strain on the body, and so many things can go wrong. Complacency is out of the window and even experienced hikers like myself know there are no guarantees. As usual its a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

“I will be taking sponsorship all the way through until October so there is plenty of time to donate if people want to wait until after the events have taken place."

To sponsor Nick you can ask him or any other postman in the PE15 area for a sponsorship form to be delivered to your door.

Donate in the collection box at Royal Mail March delivery office callers office or via the link on Nick’s Facebook page or online at www.justgiving.com/nicholas-winterton

Dyspraxia (also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder-DCD) is a relatively common but poorly understood neurological condition that affects fine and gross motor coordination in children and adults. Although intelligence is not affected it can affect organisation, planning, time

management and speech. Dyspraxia /DCD affects around five per cent of children, two per cent severely and makes it difficult to carry out everyday activities that others manage easily for example using cutlery, scissors, handwriting, riding a bike, kicking a ball, climbing stairs, getting dressed and crossing the road.

Sensory processing difficulties are also very common affecting a young person’s ability to function and learn new skills. There is no cure for Dyspraxia but with understanding and support people can learn to manage the condition effectively. While people with Dyspraxia/DCD can be very successful in their lives, there can be serious negative consequences for a person’s academic achievement and their physical, social and emotional well-being (anxiety and mental health issues) for those who do not receive appropriate recognition, help and support during childhood and adolescence.