£100,000 raised for South West Coast Path will help fix 'wear and tear'
It's due to 'severe storm damage, increased footfall and coastal erosion'
£100,000 has been raised, to help safeguard the future of the South West Coast Path.
There has been increased 'wear and tear' recently, due to severe storm damage, increased footfall during lockdown, and coastal erosion.
The charity has been fundraising as part of the 'Every Mile Matters' campaign for just under a year, and hit the milestone total earlier this week.
Since its launch, donations have been coming in from individuals, fundraisers, local businesses and grant givers.
Responding to the news, charity Director Julian Gray said:
"The last year has been a challenging time for everyone and our focus has been making sure the Coast Path is open for people to reconnect with nature and meet with friends and family safely.
"It’s amazing and very humbling to see what a difference people are making with their generous support, giving us the resources to get work done on the ground for this world class Trail on our doorstep."
The South West Coast Path Association has the support of over 10,000 members who give back regularly to trail, and the support of over 75 volunteers working across the region.
Every year the South West Coast Path generates health benefits for the nation valued at over £75 million.
It supports the wellbeing of over nine million people who visit each year, connects hundreds of coastal communities, helps the region’s economy thrive and hosts internationally important ecosystems.
Announcing this major milestone was the job of charity ambassador and award-winning author of The Salt Path, Raynor Winn.
Raynor, who credits the Path with changing her life said,
"I am absolutely over the moon that the Every Mile Matters campaign has reached this first important milestone in its fight to secure the future of the SWCP National Trail, reaching an amazing £100,000 raised!
"A huge, heartfelt thank you from me and all lovers of this special place to the generous donors, fundraisers, grant-givers and especially the campaign sponsors, who have come together to make this happen, you are making such a difference to the communities and biodiversity of this unique natural corridor."
Having launched Every Mile Matters around the time of the first lockdown, the charity has seen the campaign gain continued resonance throughout the year as people spent more time appreciating the role green and blue spaces play in supporting our wellbeing.
Genevieve Hinchliff, Fundraising Manager for the SWCPA said,
"The pandemic has transformed the nation’s attitude towards getting active outdoors and this seems to be gradually translating into a deeper understanding of the need to care for, and crucially, fund, the wild places we have all come to depend upon over the last year.
"It is encouraging that a considerable number of those who have donated to Every Mile Matters are first-time supporters of the Association, including an anonymous ‘Mile Maker’ donor from South Devon who took the fundraiser to its £100,000 target with his generous gift of £1,400 - the amount it costs to care for a mile of the Trail for one year."