Coffin Mew supports Paul in his Challenge 300 for Save the Children
Photo courtesy: Pietro Rocchiccioli BA(Hons) - ARPS - AFIAP
Coffin Mew Solicitors are delighted to be sponsoring Paul Smith, a Hampshire man, who is taking on an amazing challenge in his wheelchair to raise £50,000 for Save the Children – called ‘Challenge 300’.
Since becoming severely disabled in 1991 as the result of a motor vehicle accident, Paul has had to re-evaluate his life. At that time, as a Leading Seaman Specialist in the Royal Navy, he was incredibly fit and led an active, full and privileged life, serving in both the Falklands and the first Gulf campaign, as well as competing in the Royal Naval Field Gun Crew.
Over the past 5 years, Paul has helped raise in excess of £1,800,000 for various charities including local disabled children, the Teenage Cancer Trust, the Kiya Survivors in Peru, Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital Charity, and Centrepoint Youth Homelessness and most recently when he raised over £28,000 for Save the Children UK.
In April 2013 Paul will commence his biggest challenge yet, when he will self-propel his wheelchair, approximately 325 miles from Plymouth in Devon, to London. The challenge will take six days and see him complete the equivalent of almost 12.5 marathons at 54 miles a day.
The money raised through Challenge 300 will be used to help Save the Children with their fantastic work in over 120 countries worldwide including the UK. They will also be supporting their two new projects ‘Families and Schools Together’ (FAST) programme, a range of education programmes in the UK and overseas to help the poorest children get a better start in life and give them the chance to grow and fulfil their potential. The FAST programme is an award winning, U.N endorsed programme. The second project is ‘Eat, Sleep, Learn, Play (ESLP). The ESLP initiative is a programme that assists children living in the most desperate need by providing household essentials like a child’s bed, a family cooker or educational books and toys.
Paul says, “This challenge will leave me in significant pain and physical exhaustion for weeks, however the difference I will be able to make in the life of others will more than compensate. I truly believe that this is a worthy cause for support by giving a young child/person in the UK and around the world a better chance in the future, which they may not otherwise get.”
“The road to recovery remains long and difficult. Whilst I am mainly confined to a wheelchair and still suffer significant pain as a result of permanent brain damage and numerous physical disabilities. I find it helps greatly to concentrate a large proportion of my time in helping others, less fortunate than myself. Despite my own difficulties, I have always had the love and support of family and friends. I have always had a roof over my head and food to eat and water to drink, famine is something I have never had to consider. As such, my next challenge will again benefit Save the Children UK and their mission to end child deaths here in the UK and around the world.”
Miles Brown, managing partner at Coffin Mew says: “Meeting Paul and seeing just what he is going to do is a truly humbling experience. His enthusiasm and commitment is truly remarkable and the dedication that he has given to raising such an incredible amount for charities is amazing. We are delighted to support him in Challenge 300 and I know that he would value the support of any other businesses that would also like to help in his adventure.”
The dates for the challenge are: start at the Guildhall, Plymouth Devon at 09:30 on Sunday 7th April 2013 and finish in London on Friday 12th April 2013, time to be confirmed, Paul will go via Exeter, Dorchester, Poole, Bournemouth, Southampton, Fareham, Portsmouth, Horndean and Petersfield on his way to London.
For more information contact Coffin Mew’s CSR team or Paul directly at: typhoon@challenger11.plus.com Twitter: @challenge300 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Challenge300
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