Jean Hall, chairman of Newark and Sherwood District Council, halfway through challenge to visit every parish in the district raising money for Nottinghamshire Mind, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, and Newark Women’s Aid
More than 60 miles have been covered either by bike or by foot by a councillor on a mission to support three vital charities.
Jean Hall, chairman of Newark and Sherwood District Council, is halfway through her challenge to visit every parish in the district, either by walking or cycling, to raise money for three causes close to her heart — Nottinghamshire Mind, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, and Newark Women’s Aid.
She is completing the challenge over two weeks – one in March and one in May – and she has just completed the first week over the week of March 3.
She is taking on the challenge to mark the end of her term as chairman, which she said she got into not for political gain, as it’s “people before politics” for her:
“When I became a councillor I realised how big Newark and Sherwood is, it blew my mind, and I never that this privilege for granted, so I decided to do this challenge.”
She also made it her mission to visit as many community groups as possible to see all the good work going on across the district.
“There are so many community groups and so many people doing such good work in the community, it’s fabulous what the people of Newark and Sherwood are doing and making a difference.”
She was joined on the first day of her challenge, which saw her pedal 22 miles on a Brompton bike, by Lesley Todd, in a round trip to and from Kirton taking in villages including Laxton, Sutton-on-Trent, Ossington, Norwell, Maplebeck, Kersall, and Ompton.
“It was quite an experience” she said, “But it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.”
Tuesday saw her walk the 10 miles from Epperstone to Kirklington, and fellow councillor Dawn Campbell joined her on the Wednesday, where she cycled around the villages around the Winthorpe area, meeting community groups including Collingham’s Men in Sheds and the community centre at South Scarle.
On the Thursday, she walked from Caunton to North Muskham and then on Friday, accompanied by Sue Stott, it was a 19-mile trek from her home in Balderton to villages including Fernwood, Elston, East Stoke, and Farndon, with a visit to Newark’s Civil War Museum.
Then on the Saturday, she joined in the final leg of Kathryn Well’s 14 Mayor’s Challenge in Newark.
All three of the charities are causes close to Jean’s heart and touched her life — she has spent time in Newark Women’s Aid’s refuge, and has also suffered with anxiety, and said that getting out into nature and walking has done wonders for her mental health.
“My wellbeing has been greatly helped by walking and walking around Balderton Lakes really lifts me up and I’ve had some really great experiences in and around Sherwood,” she said.
“The Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust showed me the qwork they are doing on the Three Rivers project and the regeneration programme in Clipstone and Sherwood and they do such amazing work — there really are some wonderful people out there.”
Next up will be the final week of her challenge in May, which will see her heading out to village a little further afield.
Any one who would like to join Jean on any of her upcoming walks to the remaining parishes are welcome to do so — you can email Jean on Jean.Hall@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk
You can make a donation to Jean’s challenge by visiting her online fundraising page at https://www.justgiving.com/team/chairperson-challenge
She has already had plenty of support from staff and customers at the betting shop where she works, and is aiming to give at least £500 to each charity.
