Wayne Dixon

[p]On the 1st of February 2016, me and my canine companion, Koda, set off from Knott End, on the Lancashire coast, to walk and litter pick the whole coastline of Britain. I have currently walked over 2700 miles. I am creating awareness of the litter problem on land and sea, encouraging people to be mindful of their environmental and social issues affecting local communities.[/p][p]I am walking in memory of my late father John L Dixon who suffered from Bipolar disorder for many years & he passed away in September 2012. My father was a well known person within his local community, but he was vulnerable, and in the last 3 weeks of his life was preyed upon by local thieves and subjected to the indignity of verble abuse and physical assault. Many were witness to these incidents but it was only after my father died that these people came to our home to tell us what they had seen. None had come forward to give him help and support, or to notify the family, when he needed it most. Life was difficult coming to terms with his sudden death and this was made doubly difficult after being told he suffered at the hands of other human beings before he died.[/p][p]My father and I had started to walk sections of the coastal path, which were some of my happiest times with him. I have now found myself in a position to complete my father's ambition to walk the UK coast with me, his son. I'm using it as a healing process for myself and taking the opportunity to raise money for the charity MIND. My aim is to raise awareness for mental health and to change peoples attitudes, reactions and responses to those people who fall vulnerable in their communities.[/p][p]A big thank you to all those who support me & Koda & the charity MIND.[/p][p][br][/p]