Paul Johnson

Mega Miles Challenge 2024

My Activity Tracking

202
mi

My target 150 mi

Please support me!

I’m taking on the Mega Miles Challenge in support of the Charity for Civil Servants.

The Charity for Civil Servants supports current, former and retired civil servants when they face tough times.  From mental health struggles and financial assistance to relationship issues, getting through grief, and coping with disability, they’re here to help people stay strong, whatever life brings.

They’ve been there for civil servants for over 137 years, providing an umbrella of support when it’s needed most and so I'm fundraising to make sure they can be there for future generations too.

My Achievements

Uploaded a profile picture

Shared your fundraising page

Made a self-donation

Reached 50% of your distance target

You're a MEGA walker

Reached 50% of fundraising target

Reached 90% of fundraising target

You're a MEGA fundraiser

My Updates

Finally wandering around: 10/10, would recommend

Thursday 23rd May
You know the area you're moving to a little bit, before you move, you'd hope.  

The distance to the railway station, to the last shop open for bread or milk, to the nearest petrol station, to the playpark(s, if you're lucky), to the best cafes... 

These are all considerations you make, before entering the closing date lottery for a new home; blind-bidding, playing cat-and-mouse with yourself, psyching yourself up for yet another post-rationalisation for why you were unsuccessful, another commiseratory B&J's Phish food on standby for you and your partner. 

Then, eventually, (if you are lucky) you are successful.  And after the fixing up and clearing out and weeding and humphing, painting and plastering, it is yours. 

I didn't realise how little I actually knew of the place before moving though.  And even having moved.  Having a reason, like this megamiles challenge, to get out and see things makes you realise that you never actually needed a reason.  It makes you realise that seeing things can be the whole point, if you like.  Bumbling about, checking stuff out, smiling when you meet a stranger, saying hello the next time and chatting about the scent of the rhododenrons and asking their dog's name.  Seeing deer scatter as they thought their domain was free of stompy humans in the drizzle or blackbirds deftly picking bugs from the edge of a yellow lily's leaves on a riverbank or having staring contests with masticating Fresians in fields you didn't realise were so nearby.  

I am grateful that I got the chance to know better where I am, where I now live.  A home is a memory you carry with you and a community is a collection of those memories; I understand both now, better than ever. 

Thank you to my Sponsors

£26.50

Paul Johnson

£20

Lesley Paton

£11

Susan Turnbull

Good luck!

£10.60

Anonymous

£10

Carra

Well done, Paul 😘