On 1 May Natalie Husk and her Dalmatian Toby will embark on an epic walk, covering 630 miles along the South West Coast Path.
Natalie and Toby, from Tiverton, are raising funds for The Leprosy Mission between 1 May and 30 June. Natalie says: ‘I’ll be walking for about 53 days, with an average of 12 miles a day. All my overnight stays will be with charity supporters, so all funds raised will go to the charity.’ She hopes to raise £10,000 to buy specially adapted shoes and prostheses for people affected by leprosy in India.
Natalie visited West Bengal 18 months ago, visiting projects funded by The Leprosy Mission. ‘Leprosy in India is surrounded by so much stigma and prejudice that people affected are isolated and treated as outcasts by their families and communities’ Natalie remarks. ‘It was great to see The Leprosy Mission providing not only medical treatment but also care and warmth for the people who thought they would be outcasts for the rest of their lives.’
Natalie and four-year-old Toby, have never walked so far before but Natalie is determined to achieve her goal, as she explains ‘I’ve always wanted to walk the South West Coast Path and this seemed like an ideal opportunity to raise much needed funds.’ Natalie hopes to be joined by friends, family members and supporters along the way.
Natalie attends Wonford Methodist Church, in the Exeter Circuit, where she is training to be a local preacher.
If you would like to support Natalie on her adventure, visit http://www.justgiving.com/natalie-husk or join Natalie and Toby along the South West Coast Path between 1 May and 30 June.

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