Newport man walks 40-mile challenge marking 50th birthday

South Wales Argus

01-07-2025

Joel Bramwell embarked on the challenge on June 21, walking from Brecon to Newport along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, to raise funds for two charities close to his heart – St David's Hospice Care and The Brain Tumour Charity.
The walk was a tribute to his father, with whom he shared countless memories of walking the same canal in the early 1990s.
Joel wanted to revisit the walk he last completed with his father as a teenager (Image: St David's Hospice) Mr Bramwell said: "I turned 50 earlier in June.
"As part of the birthday celebrations, I decided to revisit the walk and remember the memories of my dad who I last did it with when I was 17.
"His mantra as an ex-Navy man was 'to the limit and beyond' and it has stuck with me."
The inspiration from his father, coupled with the beautiful scenery and wildlife, kept him going through the physically demanding walk.
He added: "It was a wonderful way to celebrate, while raising money for St David's Hospice and The Brain Tumour Charity, who took care of friends and family we have lost to these diseases.
"I wanted to give something back to the people who cared for and supported my family and many friends."
Joel wanted to give back to the charities that have supported his family and multiple friends over the years (Image: Joel Bramwell) At the time of counting, Mr Bramwell has raised around £1,200, which he plans to split equally between the two charities.
A spokesperson for St David's Hospice expressed their gratitude towards Mr Bramwell's efforts and donations.
They said: "We are so grateful to Joel for taking on such an incredible walk in support of St David's Hospice Care - this challenge took a huge amount of dedication to complete so many miles with an outstanding total raised.
"We are indebted to the local community for their ongoing fundraising that makes such a pivotal difference. All our care is provided free of charge, however it costs £15,000 every single day to provide that care making support such as this vital to the hospice. A huge well done and thank you to Joel as well as to every donor and supporter!"
Joel was joined by friends and family for some of the walk (Image: Joel Bramwell) Mr Bramwell's efforts will help support the work of St David's Hospice Care, which provides care for those living with a life-limiting illness.
It offers round-the-clock expert care, managing patients' pain, and looking after their emotional, spiritual, and social needs.
The charity provides a friendly, welcoming environment, helping patients to live their lives to the fullest.
Joel has raised around £1200 to split between the charities, well beyond his target of £500 for each charity (Image: Joel Bramwell) Mr Bramwell's challenge has not only raised much-needed funds but also raised awareness of the important work these charities do.
His efforts are a testament to the power of personal motivation and community support, proving that even individual actions can make a significant difference.
His story serves as an inspiration to others, showing that personal milestones can be used to support and give back to the community.
By turning his 50th birthday celebration into a charity fundraiser, Mr Bramwell has demonstrated a selfless commitment to helping others and honouring the memory of his father and other loved ones.