Treadmill marathon for Mid Sussex charity gathers pace in lockdown fundraiser

Barry Gittins, also known as Baz, has been walking up to 7.5km every day to support Kangaroos, which he has attended since it launched 26 years ago.

His normal routine involves five weekly visits out with his carer, and he enjoys swimming, trampolining, and the clubs and activities run by Kangaroos.

His sister Penny, who works as a higher level teaching assistant and PE specialist at Woodlands Meed school, said: “Lockdown has understandably been very unsettling for Baz.

“Lockdown was never going to be easy for someone with severe autism who needs routine. Baz doesn’t fully understand why everything has changed.”
Penny decided to make sure his love of exercise was not interrupted too much by the lockdown by setting him daily targets to walk on the treadmill they have at home.

It wasn’t long before Baz, who lives with his sister and parents in Haywards Heath, was smashing his targets and a family member suggested they set up a Just Giving page to raise money for Kangaroos.

Kangaroos provide a range of fun, inclusive social and leisure activities in the local community all-year round for children and young adults with learning disabilities and additional needs.

Penny said: “Baz started off walking for 20 minutes and we were unsure of how he would react to the new activity.

“We needn’t have worried though, he absolutely loves walking on the treadmill, and it has now become part of his daily routine that he looks forward to.

“Come 4.30pm, Baz puts on his trainers and says ‘time for training’ as he makes his way down to the garage to start his session.

“This started off as a distraction and a means for Baz to get his daily exercise, but it has become something he loves.

I have been reporting his progress on Facebook and have been amazed at the response full of encouragement, good wishes and donations.”

He has gone from walking 20 minutes a day to more than 90 minutes a day, and Penny said from working out his statistics that he has walked close to five marathons in three weeks.

Penny described the amount of walking he has done as an ‘amazing achivement’, which he does ‘with great energy and a massive smile on his face’.

She said: “As a family, we are heavily involved in Kangaroos with my mum being one of the delivery managers.

“I regularly work at Kangaroos as one of the support staff. Baz is a regular member and was in fact one of the first young people to attend Kangaroos, 26 years ago.

“We started with a fundraising target of £200, which was quickly achieved.

“We then hoped we could double our target, but again, as Baz continued walking further and for longer, more and more people donated.

“Baz has currently raised over £1,000 for Kangaroos, and we really could not be prouder of him.

“We are also extremely humbled and grateful to our amazing family and friends who have all donated so generously, especially at a time when things are tough and money is tight.”

If you would like to donate, visit Baz’s Just Giving Page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bazzy-gittins