One of the fantastic organisations our Camino Walk hopes to raise money for is MYTIME Young Carers. A charity that fight for the rights of young carers to ensure they receive the support, opportunities and friendship that every child needs and deserves. Perhaps the best way to explain why I want to support this Dorset-based charity is to briefly describe my journey with being a young carer, and how I was first introduced to the wonders of walking.
My Journey With Being a Young Carer
As a youngster, I had never been hill-walking, hiking, or trekking. I doubt the idea of walking as a source of adventure or exploration had ever crossed my mind. My peers and the adults I knew did not discuss or partake in these or other outdoor adventures, and because of that, neither did I. I suppose I may have been introduced to the delights of rapidly changing weather, steep ascents and scree if I had ever gone on a geography field trip. But the nearest I ever got to a mountain pass would have been through an adventure novel or film.
When I was around 15, everything changed. I got introduced to a whole new way of life, one where people wore big backpacks, waterproof jackets, and strange-looking leg covers called gaiters. It was all part of getting away from everyday stress and finding peace in the outdoors. From 13-16, it was just me and my mum. We lived in a ground-floor flat modified to enable wheelchair access and a wheel/walk in shower. I was what I now know to be ‘a young carer’. My mother had various issues, but probably the most difficult one was her diagnosis of Multiple sclerosis.
Walking and Being Outdoors Can Change Lives
Becoming a carer was not a choice I made; it just happened. And not only did I get a new bedroom, but I also acquired my very own social worker. She was a lovely lady who would occasionally pop around for a chat to see how we were getting on. We had good and bad days, just like everyone else, but I suppose when you do not know anything different, the concepts of good and bad can become distorted.
The social worker decided there had been too many bad days and decided that I needed a break. True to her word, she arranged for me to spend a week of adventurous R&R with a group of similarly preoccupied teenagers.
I cannot recall where I went, but I do remember that I loved kayaking and felt braver and more confident with every climb and fall. But above all else, the clunky boots, false summits, and everlasting sky stole my heart. I was lucky to be able to experience the wonders of walking in nature at such an impressionable age. Something sparked in me, which has been a constant source of solace and joy throughout my adult life.
Why we’re supporting MYTIME Young Carers
MYTIME Young Carers do far more than arrange one-off moments of adventure and fun. They ensure that some of society’s most vulnerable people can broaden their horizons and develop healthy passions that will nurture and support them through the ups and downs of life.
So, if, like me, you recognise the value of spending time outside in natural environments and believe that giving young carers opportunities to experience the wonders of walking is the right thing to do. Please go to our Just Giving page and help my partner and I make this a reality by sponsoring us on our 800 km Camino Walk. Thank you for reading about my journey with being a young carer.
Donate Here
Click here to see our Just Giving page for MYTIME Young Carers
Click here to see our Just Giving page for the Dorset Wildlife Trust
Written by Managing Director, Simon Cassin