Summary
Chalford teenager Dom Kenny began a sponsored 1,000km cycle ride around the whole of Wales on Sunday (August 23) to raise money for a men’s mental health charity. The route, around the entire coastline of Wales and its land border with England, will take 18-year-old Dom about 11 days. All the money he raises will go to the charity James’ Place, which provides free intensive therapy for men in suicidal crisis.
Details
Dom started the ride on Sunday in Gloucester, cycling to Newport for the start of the Welsh circuit. Dom embarked on the challenge in memory of a family friend’s son, who committed suicide earlier this year. Dom said: “Support to find hope could have helped him, just like it could help many others all over the world.
Three-quarters of deaths by suicide are men, and suicide is the most common cause of death for men under 50.” This is Dom’s second challenge this year in support of men’s mental health. In February he did a sponsored walk from Gloucester to London, in aid of suicide prevention charity Andy’s Mans Club.
He got to London Heathrow Airport after five days walking and caught the train home just in time for the start of term. He said: “The experience taught me a lot about weather, route planning, the importance of having the right kit and how to keep going when things seem stacked against you. I was so pleased to raise more than £2,000 and I’d really love to raise even more this time.
Every donation, however small, could help save a man’s life.” Dom attended Pate’s School in Cheltenham until he completed his A levels this summer, and he is due to go to Edinburgh University this autumn to study Computing and AI. His mum, Tricia Watson, is a Green Party councillor representing their village of Chalford on Stroud District Council.
Dom would be grateful for donations at https://www.justgiving.com/page/dom-kenny-2
Report source: Punchline Gloucester
