Roy has been fundraising for Friends of PICU for many years, and last month took his fundraising to a whole new level when he set off to Morocco for a 5-day trek covering 100KM through Morocco’s forbidding landscape of peaks, gorges, dunes and oases, and at night sleeping under Africa’s star strewn skies enjoying traditional Berber hospitality. This challenge went beyond the Jebel Saghro region, starting on the Maider El Kbir plateu before ascending Jebel El Mrakib with the final days trekking along the Tikertouachene River, celebrating a successful end of the challenge in Ouarzazate – all in aid of Friends of PICU following the care his niece received in PICU in 2007.
Not only did Roy make it through some very enduring travel, trek and desert conditions, but he raised an incredible £5,115.18 for Friends of PICU!
Roy shared with us why he decided to take part, and all about the incredible challenge:
“My name is Roy Godwin, I am Assistant Head Gardener at Sculpture by the Lakes near Dorchester in Dorset, and I have just completed the 100km Sahara Desert Charity Trek raising money and awareness for Southampton Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
I have been participating in challenges raising money for Southampton Hospital (PICU) since 2009 after my niece and God Daughter, Esmee, was treated there. In 2007, Esmee like her older brothers caught Chicken Pox, a virus which was always considered relatively harmless and something most parents actually want their children to get young so as to be less likely to contract it as shingles in later life. However, where her brothers recovered quickly from Chicken Pox, Esmee did not. Instead, what was unknown at the time is that there was an unusually strong strain of Chicken Pox going around, and once Esmee contracted the virus it reduced her immune system dramatically. This made Esmee susceptible to much greater illnesses and before long Esmee became very ill.
She was rushed to Dorset County Hospital where the medical staff worked incredibly hard to stabilise her, however, Esmee’s health was declining rapidly. Requiring the help of more specialist care and equipment, Esmee was then rushed by ambulance to Southampton Hospital (PICU). From there, all the medical staff tried tirelessly to care for Esmee and help her overcome her illness. Continuing to fade in health doctors realised that they were dealing with an illness not seen before and tried with all professional resilience to save her. Esmee fought courageously throughout her time at Southampton Hospital, but after two and a half weeks sadly passed away. This was devasting to her parents Christopher and Gillian, her family and her friends.
After time, Chris and Gill decided to create a charitable fund in her name called the Esmee Godwin Fund which worked with Friends of PICU in Southampton Hospital to raise money and awareness for the fantastic work that the medical team do in providing specialist care to sick and terminally ill children. In the past 10 years, the Esmee Godwin Fund has participated in such challenges as the Three Peaks Challenge, Five Peaks Challenge, 122-mile Jurassic Coast Walk, 15,000 feet Skydive, and numerous auctions and concerts which have to date raised approximately £35,000 for Friends of PICU. In the past few years, Friends of PICU approached me and asked if I would be interested in participating in another event to raise money for their charity, this was to walk 100km of the Sahara Desert and without a moment of thought I leaped at the chance to help.
This challenge was originally planned for October 2020, but for reasons such as COVID-19 outbreak and economic uncertainty the challenge was postponed until November 2022. Once the challenge had arrived, excitement was in the air, sponsorships for the event were arriving in abundance and I couldn’t wait to take my first step in what would be the most epic trek of my life!
The Challenge
On November 5th 2022, I flew out to Ouarzazate in Morocco to participate in a 100km trek of the Sahara Desert which began in the Mharech Dunes. This was a five day trek which took us through an incredible spectrum of environmental conditions. When you think Sahara Desert, you naturally think sand…..dunes, however there were also huge areas of vast baron landscape which consisted of dry gravelly terrain which at times became areas of larger more difficult debris which made for very unsure footing. Each day ranged from 16km to 30km and the temperatures were always hot, dry and little wind which made it all the more difficult to walk in.
Everyone including myself were suffering with blisters, fatigue ……or worse! However, it was an epic adventure….one in a lifetime! Regardless of how uncomfortable the trek may have been at times; we all remembered why we were doing this challenge. For me, it was raising money for Friends of PICU at Southampton Hospital in memory of our beautiful Esmee, a fantastic cause which support and cares for sick and terminally ill children, there was nothing which was going to stop me achieving this and I was determined to complete this amazing challenge.
After The Challenge
Every one of us on this expedition completed this challenge, and despite the expected aches and pains we all felt fantastic that we had accomplished such an incredible feat and for such amazing causes! My target for fundraising on this event was £2,500……..and I am delighted to say that I raised £5,000!!……200% of the target……I’m over the moon! I sincerely thank Friends of PICU for asking me to participate on this charity challenge and for all their fantastic support. Additionally, I want to thank local businesses Sculpture by the Lakes, Cahill Motor Services, Henryettas Hooks and Lyons Gate Garden Services as well as everyone for their fantastic and generous support throughout this challenge, I am so grateful and really appreciate the kindness shown to such an amazing charity!
Would I do another challenge in the future?…………………………YES!!!”
We send our enormous thanks to Roy for his incredible fundraising and continued support.
