756 days ago

Former Pukekohe Golf Club manager taking on 770km for the Mental Health Foundation

Sapeer Mayron Reporter from Franklin County News

Kia ora neighbours,

Pukekohe local, Ian Litchfield, is planning on the walk of his life across the famous Camino de Santiago in May.

Litchfield, a former general manager of the Pukekohe Golf Club, is planning to walk 770km, from the Pyrenees Mountains to Spain in just 77 days.

In doing so, he wants to raise $50,000 for the Mental Health Foundation, saying its work is close to his heart, having experienced Post Traumatic Stress and watching his friends and family go through various struggles too, he said.

“You’ve got to clear past issues from your mind, achieve the balance one seeks for the present and then plan for the future,” he said.

“That’s what I’ll be doing on the walk: week by week, reviewing what I’ve done and preparing for the next part as well as for my future when I get home.”

Litchfield, 71, will do his walk with just 10kg on his back, plus two pairs of hiking shoes to support him on his journey.

He’ll start in Gallipoli at the end of April, where his grandfather fought during WWI, then travel to France to begin Camino de Santiago pilgrimage from the French side of the Pyrenees Mountain range through to Spain.

The Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St James, is among the most important Christian pilgrimage paths and was first walked in the ninth century. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hundreds of walkers visit it annually, and villages along the route host pilgrims and hikers alike in accommodation on their way.

To support Litchfield and contribute to the Mental Health Foundation, visit his fundraiser online.

Image
More messages from your neighbours
4 days ago

Poll: Does the building consent process need to change?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We definitely need homes that are fit to live in but there are often frustrations when it comes to getting consent to modify your own home.
Do you think changes need made to the current process for building consent? Share your thoughts below.

Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.

Image
Does the building consent process need to change?
  • 91.6% Yes
    91.6% Complete
  • 8% No
    8% Complete
  • 0.4% Other - I'll share below!
    0.4% Complete
1258 votes
1 day ago

Lest we forget...

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

On this ANZAC Day, let's take a moment to remember and honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.

Tell us who are you honouring today. Whether it's a story from the battlefield or a memory of a family member who fought in the war, we'd love you to share your stories below.

Image
2 hours ago

Revamp an open wardrobe

The Team from Resene ColorShop Pukekohe

Cut visual clutter and give tired shelves new life with doors and colourful Resene paint.

Image