New partnerships for Great South West Walks

The South West Coast Path Association is pleased to announce two new partnerships for their 2014 fundraising event, the Great South West Walks.

The Great South West Walks 2014, which will take place from 20th - 28th September, hopes to see 1,500 people taking part in 100 guided sponsored walks in order to raise funds for the improvement of the South West Coast Path.

The South West Coast Path Association is delighted to announce that celebrity trio - The Three Hungry Boys - will be supporting their event.

The charity has also welcomed Children's Hospice South West (CHSW) to partner in the event, with the objective of raising money through the sponsored walkers for both charities.

CHSW offers care and support to children who are living with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, through their three hospices across the South West offering, respite, emergency, palliative and end of life care to life-limited children and their whole families.

The charity relies entirely on voluntary contributions to support their hospices - Little Bridge House in Devon, Charlton Farm in Somerset and Little Harbour in Cornwall.

Walkers taking part in The Great South West Walks 2014 will see their sponsorship benefitting both charities, with half going to Children's Hospice South West and half to the South West Coast Path Association.

Marina Leadbetter, Events Fundraiser at Little Bridge House for Children's Hospice South West, is thrilled to be partnering with the South West Coast Path Association's event. She said:

"One of the ways we offer support is by giving families a chance to spend quality time together. Time to create happy memories while we are there to support them on every step of their journey from diagnosis and long into bereavement for as long as a family wishes. It is fantastic that participants of the Great South West Walks 2014 will now be able to support this work with every step that they take along the Coast Path."

Esther Pearson, Business Development Manager for the South West Coast Path Association, also commented:

"As many families enjoy walking the Coast Path together, creating lifelong memories, it is fitting that the Great South West Walks 2014 will not only help with the improvement of the beautiful Coast Path which so many families enjoy, but also benefit other families who may have an uncertain future."

Alongside this charity partnership, the South West Coast Path has also received support from Channel 4's the Three Hungry Boys, as their official Project Champions.

The Three Hungry Boys consist of Trevor Brinkman, Tim Cresswell and Thom Hunt and were formed when they were challenged to travel around the South West on four wheels with no money - using only their own knowledge of foraging and fishing to survive.

The trip was filmed for a four part TV series, aired in 2010, and a spin-off book was published detailing tips, anecdotes and recipes.

The Three Hungry Boys often visited the South West Coast Path during their travels which fuelled their interest in the Great South West Walks 2014. Trevor commented on his experiences of the Coast Path.He said:

"I walked part of the Coast Path from Padstow to Lands End last year and was amazed by how beautiful and diverse the coastline is. Along the way I took in endless white beaches and the sea was never out of sight, at times a deep turquoise, at others so clear you could see shoals of fish beneath the water. Many of us take this for granted, whilst the South West Coast Path Association work hard to ensure it can be enjoyed by many for years to come. So we are delighted to be able to support this event, taking part in the Great South West Walks 2014 is a fantastic way to support this unique part of our heritage for future generations."

If you are interested in taking part in the Great South West Walks 2014 or would like further information, please visit www.greatsouthwestwalks.co.uk