Jacob's long-distance trek for Jigsaw
Published 10 Sep 2010 09:30
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JOURNEY'S END: Jacob and supporters at Bowling.
HELENSBURGH lad Jacob Foster walked across Scotland this week and raised £1,000 for Jigsaw.
The 17-year-old who has learning difficulties started his three day trek in Grangemouth and followed the route of the Forth and Clyde Canal to Bowling where he was met by family and friends on Monday afternoon.
His mum Debbie said: “I was so proud of him. It was such an achievement for Jacob.”
Jacob was joined on his walk by his pals from Jigsaw Eddie Conroy, Charles McVey and David McColl but they took turns to walk with him and Jacob was the only member of the team who walked the whole 36 miles.
As a “support vehicle” they had a canal barge provided by the Seagull Trust and they were able to spend their nights in comfort on board.
Debbie said: “Jacob has had a difficult time in the past few years and I am really proud of what he had achieved. He trained so hard for this and put in so much effort.
“Jacob has low self esteem sometimes and he is inclined to give up rather than risk failing but he stuck with this and he has done what he set out to do. I am immensely proud of him.”
Sarah Tryon Jigsaw chairman, Christine Simpson, Jigsaw’s vice-chairman and Kirsty Savage of Jigsaw all joined the welcome party along with Debbie and Jacob’s older brother Ben and his sister Megan.
Christine said: “Jacob has raised £1,000 for Jigsaw and that is a huge amount of money.
“We had been looking for something that Jacob could do in the summer and the idea of the walk across Scotland seemed ideal.
“We have instigated a system of awards called the Grace Awards which are our equivalent of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards and which Jigsaw members can work towards in the transition years when they are preparing to leave Jigsaw.
“The money Jacob has raised will go towards that.”
The Grace Awards have been set up in memory of Helensburgh boy and Jigsaw member Alastair Grace who died just over a year ago.
This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 10 Sep 10
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