Looking for a taste of the Caribbean, look no further, come along to the Chelwood Bridge Caribbean themed event on Saturday 24th June at Elm Park House, Chewton Keynsham. Music provided by Rainbow Steel Band, there will be a bar and BBQ for a entertaining evening. All in aid of Rotary charities including RUHX, the official charity of RUH hospital, Bath Free parking is available on site. Get your tickets now and don’t miss out on a great night out.
Full details www.chelwoodbridgerotary.com
Day 41…Having had no reply from contacts down in the Lulworth/Studland area, I changed the route so that I did not travel too far. AND, what a blessing I did!
I completed a route which took in Cerne Abbas, Up Cerne, Nether Cerne, Minterne Magna, and the hills and footpaths surrounding them. A beautiful day, ending with a cup of tea and biscuit at The Abbots Tearooms where fortunately the owner was to be found busy in the kitchen. The family who run the tea rooms are lovely and have supported all my physical challenges throughout the years in numerous ways. My tea and biscuit was “on the house” and we compared notes on how a dear friend with terminal cancer is doing. [Vic who co-owns and runs Cerne Brewery. Both he and business partner Jodie have also been hugely supportive of not just my annual physical challenges, but also when we have met up at events such as The Dorset Knob Throwing Fayre, and other shows near and afar. Within minutes, boxes of their brews appeared each time on my stands to raffle…always so generous!]
The day was also busy for HNT, putting together boxes of food and household essentials and delivering them to a very vulnerable lady who is so isolated and fearful. She now has access to the food bank, but many of the families I see are not wanting to go down that route for many different reasons. I always have a stock of non perishable in date foods, and so if you have any unwanted items in the cupboard/gifts do pass them my way if you are local.
Day 42…another local day cycling some of the mileage as in the afternoon I drove down to Minehead ready to stay for 2 nights. Before I went to the wonderful home of a Rotary member and his wife, I completed nearly a further 11 miles on the roads, making sure that I had my bearings ready for the 2 days ahead. These 2 days were going to be hugely challenging as they were both on the coast path.
My stay in Minehead was wonderful, my hosts so kind, feeding me on Day 43 when I returned home…a welcome break to grabbing what I could from the local small supermarket to have in the evening.
Day 43…what a send off from Minehead Rotary Club…a drone covered some footage, plenty of photographs were taken, lots of hand shakes and waves as I set off, and a large donation to come.
I had got up early and covered some miles before setting off at noon, and for some reason I just could not get my head around the fact that I needed to cover 26.2 miles over the cliff paths! It did not matter how hard I tried to be positive, this seemed to be impossible. The rotary club coming out in large numbers certainly must have had a good influence as off I went and had the best run/speed walk/crawl of the so far 43 days! Mind games!! Another day completed and a lovely run through Bossington, Porlock, Allerford, along the coast and through the most gorgeous woods with streams, small “waterfalls”, and bird life. A final few miles were completed through Dunster and back to Minehead.
Day 44…again I was up early, this time to visit Foxes Hotel and College. This college supports young people with learning difficulties, 60+% having Downs Syndrome. It is a catering and hospitality college with the students all living within the town and working at the hotel. They are supported also being out in the community in every where, from joining in sports clubs to accessing other activities with the local community. Life skills are a vital part of their learning too, the aim for them to rent flats together once they leave the college wherever their jobs take them.
I had a long chat with the Principal, and without doubt we will be doing plenty of work together in the near future.
Then, off I went again, this time covering 28 miles across the coast path to Watchet and beyond. A return run along the coast past the Dunster huts on Dunster beach before reaching Minehead again.
Minehead Rotary Club came to wave me off again…superb! Thanks to all! And huge thanks to those in the town that were interested in the Rotary Foundation T-shirt, and to the chap who shouted out to me “Have you run from Porlock?” He recognized me from the day previously and I he.
Sadly I then had to drive home to Sherborne after thanking Richard, Lorna, and dog Sally.
Day 45…A last coastal run taking in Portland, Wyke Regis, and Weymouth. A nostalgic day visiting old haunts from my childhood so that I could share pictures with my sister. 29.12 miles completed albeit it at a snail’s pace…all I could do was to put one foot in front of the other I was so tired. Fortunately I went there and back on the train, and so no driving.
The Spanish wooden galleon was in the harbour which was a treat to see as I crawled past.
Day 46…Market day in Sherborne which is vast every third Sunday of the month. I always have a stand and so I was up early to set up by 9am in Pageant Gardens. And then…off to complete whatever miles I could in the 2 + hours I had before running into the band stand at 1pm.
What a welcome I had…a huge bunch of flowers and bottle of champagne, lots of hugs from many people and more…and the best thing was that my terminally ill sister made it to the end and was there to greet me. I have to say, emotionally on many levels and for many reasons it was quite tough.
Both Bridget and I were unsure whether she would make it through the weeks. I was setting off each day, mobile in hand, wondering if there would suddenly be a call to say “get home now”. But, she is still here, having 2 more rounds of Chemotherapy and immunotherapy before final scans on her brain to see if there has been any improvement. We live in hope that she may have reduced mets in size and number so that she will make a further few months.
Back to the marathons…46 in 46 days completed. A total of 1232.44 miles run/speed walked/walked/crawled, with a full marathon on a rowing machine [gruesome!], and some of the mileage cycled to rest my leg, averaging a daily mileage of 26.80 miles.
If my early on injury had not healed, I would have had to cycle all the days, but fortunately this did not happen.
Would I do it again? I certainly would love to do another physical challenge for HNT next year, but I have promised my family I will not run! [I have not told them that I will not speed walk, cycle, row, or something more nuts!]
I also would love to think of a major fundraise for Foundation in 2024, again incorporating as many clubs in our District as possible along with our twinning Rotary towns in France. There could even be scope to invite other clubs from outside our District 1200 to join in the fun…after all, Foundation is our Global Charity.
To those clubs who have supported…a HUGE thank you. I would never have been able to mentally and emotionally get through the days without the send offs, meetings at the end, tea and biscuits, fun joint events at the end, and more.
Weymouth
Portland
Yeo Vale and Yeovil
Wells
Rhondda!!!
Poundbury
Sturminster Newton!!!
Frome Clubs
Crewkerne
Langport and Somerton
Trowbridge
Mendip
Bath
Bridport
Minehead
If I have missed any club who have supported out…apologies, my list has gone missing probably due to naughty puppy Pippin pinching anything she can find!
As soon as June 30th ends the treasurer will close the account set up and then let me know the amount raised. SO, if your club did not participate in this fun event, there is still time to donate, put on a fundraise, do a bucket collection etc.
I am already back organizing a gig in June, I have a young autistic lad all week for work experience, and am about to be off as Secretary and President to a Rotary business meeting, inducting another member and giving out awards.
Bye for now and thank you all again,
Rachel
Day 34…An early train to Weymouth and then out onto the coast path. Although the day was lovely, there was still a cool breeze, and I had forgotten how much rain we had had. I had a very squelchy walk along the bottom of the White Horse Hill in Sutton Poyntz/Osmington which meant by a third of the way through my feet were saturated. However, the path up and over the hill was well worth the while, and the descent meant that I could call in at The Ranch again to thank them for helping fundraise when I was in Poundbury, Dorchester.
There was a mist which almost completely enveloped Portland and the causeway, bringing back childhood memories when we could not get across to the island from Wyke Regis. It also reminded me of the fog horn from The Bill which would sound on full foggy days, hearing it for seemingly miles away, and the number of times that all cars going off the island would be stopped and boots searched when a prisoner from The Verne had escaped. Happy days!
Day 35…Another early train to Frome followed by a hilly run with a stop to visit the Rotary members running the Frome shop. The shop has to close within a month as the landlords have found paying tenants, and so there is a huge sale of goods…do visit and support this amazing venture as it has raised an extraordinary amount of funds over the years.
I also met up with Radek again, the chap with additional needs who has been supporting my challenge from the start. He ensured that he met me at the end of the day, and escorted me to the station. He also had had a sale of goods in the town, raising £20, and he gave me all the new goods that he had been given by Asda in the town. These goods all still have labels on and should raise a further £50-100 at the next sale in Sherborne.
Day 36…An early start with a train ride to Bath. I was very much looking forwards to meeting members of Bath Rotary Club and the Mayor of Bath in the Mayor’s Parlour halfway through the day. The sun shone, the run was amazing taking in all the sites, and the canal path was particularly fun.
The T-shirt is now attracting a lot of attention! A cyclist along the tow path called out as he past me “Keep going, you’re doing really well!”, followed by “I now have seen someone more nuts than me!” Possibly a Rotary member or just a member of the public who had heard of the challenge? It goes to show that by getting out into busy places with the Rotary Foundation/International shirt on, people are curious. I have been asked many times about what the challenge is, and when I have returned, my treasurer has asked me if I know names that have added small amounts to the GoFundMe. Very rarely have I recognized names, but they have coincided with the days that I have spoken to random members of the public. Every £5 added has ensured through the GoFundMe alone, over £900 has been reached. Please keep spreading the word!
We had a lovely hour with the Mayor…what an interesting history is in the Parlour! The Mayor not only gave us a short talk about the items in the room and what the Mayoral role is in Bath [over 800 community events are attended each year!!!], but he was also incredibly interested in my challenge and what Hidden Needs Trust is all about. He is a larger than life character, full of fun and enthusiasm, with a great wish to support the local community in whatever way is required. A cheque handover was made £150…and so huge thank you Bath Rotary Club!
Day 37…A change of route today so that could call in on my sister with cancer. A hot and sunny day running over the hills to West Coker, stating at Hardington Mandeville. Not many people out and about today, but once home I totaled up the mileage…998.10 miles which averages out at 26.9 miles per day. On target for the 46 marathons in 46 days, and so I am happy.
Day 38…Another hard West Dorset coastal run which incorporated Colmers Hill, Thorncombe Beacon, and Golden Cap…the highest coastal point in Dorset…ending at West Bay to a tremendous welcome from Bridport Rotary Club. Today was a particularly good day as many people were out in the sunshine and again the t-shirt attracted much interest. One cyclist I past at a field gate said “I keep seeing you everywhere!” which made him question what I was doing.
Bridport Rotary Club were fantastic…bucket runs on the promenade, a finishing tape for me to run through, and then much needed tea at the end. Thank you all so much!
Day 39…Anoher early trip to Trowbridge on the train, complete with night bag as I was staying with parents of one of Trowbridge Rotary Club members at their B and B. I was collected from the station, quickly dropped my bags, and then was off on the canal tow path towards Bradford on Avon, Avoncliff, and Bath. The tow paths were full of walkers, cyclists and families enjoying picnics, the canal boats in both directions busy with all enjoying the glorious weather.
At Avoncliff I bumped into two Rotarians from the North of England, and so for 10 minutes or so we put the world to rights and exchanged ideas on what works/does not work for our clubs. Sadly, their club is dissolving after many years of being extremely proactive due to lack of younger members. It goes to show how important membership drives are!
As I ran later on the tow path I suddenly heard a horn blasting from in front of me…the two Rotarians were on a narrow boat making their way towards Bath! If I had known that they were on the water I may have been cheeky and asked for a lift…I have not been on a narrowboat for many years! It would have been a fun diversion for an hour, just making my day a bit longer finishing off my running miles!
Another fun meetup was with a group of chaps who were on an RNAS Yeovilton narrow boat. I bumped into them three times, and of course then the questions of what I was up to…let us hope they spread the word.
In the evening I decided to take a short diversion off the tow path to explore Trowbridge and to grab something to take back to the B and B for supper. I then returned to the tow path only to miss the bridge that I needed to take, ending up several miles down which added a few miles to the day. Needless to say I slept exceptionally well that night!
Day 40…I was up and breakfasted by 9am and off, again on the toll path towards Devizes and ending up in Lacock. The wildlife is stunning, full of cygnets, goslings, ducklings, and bird song from the rushes and hedges. Everyone on the narrow boats are always smiling and friendly, willing to help with directions or queries that I had.
Having reached Devizes I stopped for a drink and snack, and then decided to run through the villages to Lacock…a long haul but off the main roads, or so I thought! I got spectacularly lost as nothing seemed to be signposted. The roads were full of lorries, cars speeding, little or no pavements and twisting turns meaning running would be just too dangerous. For 3 and ¾ hours of speed walking I tried to find a better way to Lacock, but my sat nav on my mobile cut out [apparently there is little signal in the area at the best of times!], and so I admit I started to panic a bit as I was nearing finishing another marathon in terms of mileage and tired. However, I did come across a farm shop on a junction to a busy A road and called in for some advice. The lady running the shop was with a local lady, and both said that there was no way to Lacock avoiding the dangerous roads. Very kindly, I was offered a lift to the road that would take me safely through Bowden Hill [beautiful views] and on to Lacock which was a complete relief. Thank you Amanda! Tracker off for that 10 minute drive, and then on again as I went off on the final 5 miles. The road was indeed a death trap with lorries going through the narrowest of village roads with a speed limit of 50mph.
Amanda and I chatted about the challenge and she was returning home to get onto the website and to share it with others who may benefit from Hidden Needs Trust in some way.
The last 5 miles seemed to take an age but I ended up in Lacock with over an hour to spare before meeting Stuart Gilbert, our DG Elect who is taking on the role for 2 years…much more sense than just for 1 year in my thoughts. So, time to take in the village, the history, the architecture, and to buy the essential fridge magnets for the children before having tea and talking all things Rotary. Thank you Stuart for your kind support, and of course lovely to meet Louis the dog!
For those of you who would like to stay in the Trowbridge/Bradford on Avon/Devizes/Chippenham/Lacock areas, where I was kindly put up would be an idyllic location as the tow path is a short walk away and all the towns only a short drive away. Sylvia and her husband are so welcoming, the rooms are all spotless, and they offer a good range of breakfast options.
Paxcroft Cottages B and B
62b Paxcroft
Devizes Road
Trowbridge
BA14 7HG
01225 765838
Next time I send an update I will have finished my challenge…the days have past so quickly!
Rachel Goodfellow
President and Secretary of The Rotary Club of Sherborne Castles
Founder, Chair of Trustees, and Sole Fundraiser of Hidden Needs Trust
Rotary GB&I Ukraine Crisis Taskforce – Bulletin 27
Day 27…a local run rather than Sturminster Newton based covering a further 26 miles.
Day 28…Langport based run, and I was late getting to the starting point.
Apologies to Langport and Somerton Club! A beautiful day and so only in my Foundation T-shirt which made people ask appropriate questions about Rotary and the charity. I was asked if I wanted a lift by a kind elderly chap in the pub at Kingsbury Episcopi [which I sadly had to decline!], and eventually found my way for a well needed pot of tea at Brown’s Smokery.
The bird life along the River Parrot was amazing; what a way to finish! 25.78 miles completed, and then home to wind down the legs on a bike for a further 14 miles. A bit sunburnt too!
Day 29…another fairly local run today but only 14 miles completed due to my having picked up a stomach bug! What a bore!
Day 30…needing to be very close to home today due to my tummy definitely not being great. 32 miles cycled on my spinning bike with frequent breaks!
Day 31…today I did a fundraise in Sherborne which meant a very early start and a late finish in the afternoon, and so a further cycle of 32 miles before watching the highlights of the Coronation.
Day 32…27.2 miles covered running out from home to Templecombe and beyond. Another fine day which was a relief after yesterday’s rain. I finished off at Pageant Gardens in Sherborne where the Coronation Music Event was in full swing. The gardens were packed, the music excellent, and the atmosphere buzzing.
This evening I had been given 2 free tickets to go to The Coronation Concert in Windsor. However, the only way to have sensibly gone was to train up last evening after my fundraise, do a marathon in one or two of the beautiful parks, then queue for entry into Windsor, before returning home tomorrow. The issue was the cost of staying near Windsor! Astronomical and sadly a price I could not justify, especially with a large young family. Even more sad was that my favourite singer of all time was there…maybe one day I will be able to meet the great Andrea Bocelli!
Day 33…a very wet start and so I was late setting off. However, 36 miles later, having been as far as Shaftesbury, a well needed pot of tea was had to finish with in Shaftesbury’s lovely King Alfred’s Kitchen. You just have to mind your head as the ceilings are so low!
A fun week, although quite a few wet hours. This coming week is going to be a huge challenge with coast runs, a run in Bath, and then off to Laycock and Trowbridge.
The good news is that today I forgot to put on my tubigrip but my leg and ankle have survived. The hours that I am out are now quite a bit longer than at the start, but I will finish the 46 days even if I crawl the last few.
Rachel Goodfellow
President and Secretary of The Rotary Club of Sherborne Castles
Founder, Chair of Trustees, and Sole Fundraiser of Hidden Needs Trust
Hi everyone,
HUGE thank you to those who have supported my 46 marathons in 46 days this week. Here is a brief resume from each of the days.
Circa 1200 - Rotary Mid Wessex 
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