Kenward Pioneers Raise £5,600 on Kent Charity Trek to Support Life-Changing Youth Work
On Saturday 17th May, sixteen dedicated volunteers from BNI Pioneer, a Maidstone-based business networking group, took part in the Kent Charity Trek, walking across the Kent countryside to raise vital funds for Kenward Trust’s Think Differently programme. Together, they raised an incredible £5,600.
Penny Williams, CEO, Kenward Trust said:
“The Think Differently programme delivers powerful, early-intervention workshops in schools, educating young people about the dangers of drug and alcohol misuse and helping them understand how choices made today can affect their futures, families, and communities. The funds raised by the BNI Pioneer team will directly support the continuation and expansion of this essential work.”
Joe Ward, one of the volunteers on the trek, said:
“I am a broken and damaged man and truly underestimated the challenge that was set. After all, it’s only a walk, and I’ve been doing that for 37 years... how wrong I was. This was no walk; it was a death mission over hills and through stinging nettles. At times we felt like giving up, and on the last 5 miles, I honestly didn’t believe my legs would keep going. The terrain was all over the place and never flat. I now appreciate tarmac a hell of a lot more!
Drugs and drink ruin lives and are the most addictive chemicals in this life. You only get one shot at life! Why waste years of it living day to day on the next bag of weed, the next night of cocaine, or killing yourself slowly with alcohol every day just to get by another 24 hours.”
Kaite Hayes, echoed the same experience:
“Doing the 50k trek was the toughest challenge I experienced yet. And I am no stranger to exercise. I met new people and got to know better the ones I already met. It taught me a lot and for that I am very grateful.
I chose to do this, because as a mum, it's a very scary thought how accessible drugs are and how "normal" this has become. I refuse to accept this as our norm and believe there is a way we can turn this around. Helping our children making different choices the world needs think differently program!”
Kenward Trust, based in Yalding, has been working for over 50 years to transform lives affected by addiction. Alongside its residential rehabilitation services, the Trust plays a vital role in prevention through youth outreach and community support initiatives.
The success of this year’s trek reflects the power of community action and will help Kenward Trust extend its impact across Kent and beyond.
Angela Devoil, shared:
"25km for me was a real mental and physical challenge, those hills were alive with the sound of me asking for a quick rest! The blisters were real, but so were the laughs - and all for the best cause - Kenward Trust. I couldn’t have done it without the support of our amazing team - The Kenward Pioneers!”
To find out how you could fundraise for Kenward Trust, please click here.