Huw completes Route 66

Huw raises thousands for charity by completing Route 66 Challenge

A retired schoolteacher has raised £5,578 for charity after completing his 1,067-mile charity walk around Wales.

Dedicated Huw Evans, from St Dogmaels, set himself the challenge to walk around Wales on his Route 66 challenge in no more than 70 days in aid of the Wales Air Ambulance and RNLI.

Despite lockdowns and restrictions, the grandfather-of-two managed to complete the challenge in an amazing 71 walking days.

The first 29 days walking took Huw from Poppit Sands to Prestatyn. The remainder of the walk had to be done in stages due to the national and localised lockdowns.

Route 66 saw Huw walk around Wales via the coastal path and Offa’s Dyke. His efforts haven’t gone unnoticed he has so far raised £3,925 for the Wales Air Ambulance and a further £1,653 for RNLI.

Huw, who is who is originally from Cwmfelin Mynach, Carmarthenshire, decided to pick the Wales Air Ambulance as one of the charities to fundraise for because ‘it’s only funded by donations and provides the Children’s Wales Air Ambulance transfer service’.

He said: “Also, I have seen them in action at close quarters when my neighbour suffered a very serious head injury and survived because of the swift, but calm treatment received and the speed of transfer to hospital.”

The former assistant head at Cardigan Secondary School is delighted to have raised so much money and to have completed his challenge, which was something he wanted to do for ten years.

He said: “It feels good to have completed a challenge that first came to mind about ten years ago and that retirement more recently allowed me to accomplish. I enjoyed the experience very much, seeing the varied but always stunning scenery that Wales’s coastline and Offa’s Dyke has to offer.

“I met many kind and generous people on route, many of which donated readily to one or both of the charities I have had the privilege to support, namely the Wales Air Ambulance and RNLI.”

Huw now plans on relaxing for a few days before turning his attention to his ‘neglected’ garden.

Katie Macro, the Charity’s South–West Wales Community Fundraiser, said: “A huge thank you to Huw for fundraising for two important charities. After ten years of wanting to do the challenge, he has completed it and raised over £5,500, which is incredible.

“Despite lockdown restrictions Huw never gave up and was determined to raise much-need funds for charity. Thank you to everyone who has donated to Huw’s fundraiser or supported him along the way. You’re all helping save lives across Wales. Put your feet up, Huw, you deserve it!”

There’s still time to show your support to Huw by donating to his Just giving page Huw Evans ROUTE66 CYMRUWALES

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/route66cymruwalesairambulance

There are several ways that the public can continue to support the Wales Air Ambulance. These include online donations, signing up to the Charity’s Lifesaving Lottery or by coming up with their own innovative ways to fundraise at home. Further information can be found via www.walesairambulance.com. 

Alternatively, a £5 text-message donation can be made by texting the word HELI to 70711.