Former journalist Gareth Hughes has completed a 24-hour sponsored walk along the North Wales coastal path, smashing his fundraising target in the process. Gareth, a dedicated supporter of Christian Aid Cymru, undertook the ambitious challenge to mark his 80th birthday and the start of Christian Aid Week. He initially hoped to raise at least £1,500, but his current total stands at £2,300, with additional donations still expected.
Gareth, whose father, Rev. Arthur Hughes, was a Presbyterian minister, serves as a deacon at Rehoboth Welsh Presbyterian Chapel in his hometown of Prestatyn. Reflecting on the walk, which began in Saltney, he said: “I started just inside the Welsh border near Chester and covered 51 miles. I would have liked to have done 60 miles but was quite happy with 51.”
A Walk Under Blue Skies
He added: “The weather was brilliant, even in the darkness. I felt fine throughout and had great support from friends, family, and fellow members of Prestatyn Running Club, some of whom accompanied me in the early hours of the morning. Christian Aid Church engagement and fundraising officer Llinos Roberts was among those who walked the final three miles with me through Llandudno.”
Despite feeling fine physically for most of the journey, Gareth encountered an unexpected challenge. “About halfway, I felt as if there was a small stone in my shoe. A few miles further on, my wife Anwen put a plaster on a very small blister, and it was only when I took my boots off for a paddle in the sea on Llandudno's West Shore that I found I had an enormous blister. I couldn't put my foot down, and how I hadn't felt it while walking I don't know.”
Highlights of the Journey
Among the memorable moments, Gareth noted: “Apart from the camaraderie from my fellow walkers, one of the highlights was the spectacular sunrise as I walked along the prom in Prestatyn. On top of that, I and three friends had drinks from celebrity chef Bryn Williams when he reached his Porth Eirias restaurant on Colwyn Bay promenade.”
Gareth expressed his delight at surpassing his fundraising goal: “We set a Just Giving target of £1,500, but I’ve now passed £2,300 with some more to come, so I’m very pleased.”
Support the Cause
Anyone wishing to support Gareth can visit his fundraising page, which remains open until June 1. This year’s Christian Aid Week appeal, running from May 10 to 16, focuses on work in Nairobi, Kenya, where intense poverty means families struggle daily to feed their children. With secure jobs hard to find and most people earning less than a dollar a day to cover school costs, rent, and water, some days there isn’t enough for a meal. However, with tools, seeds, and specialist training from Christian Aid’s partner, Beacon of Hope, families are learning how to make the most of small urban spaces to grow a steady supply of fresh vegetables to cook or sell. To find out how you can get involved, visit www.christianaid.org.uk.
