NATS SYMINGTON 40th BIRTHDAY MEMORIAL CHALLENGE
5th December 2014
(5 December 1974 – 7 October 2004)
The Nathaniel Symington Trust was set up in 2005 in memory of Nathaniel Symington. Its purpose is to encourage interest in boat building, boat maintenance, wood skills and related maritime activites including rowing, sailing and fishing.
The award
Since 2007 every year we select a person to receive an award from the Trust set up in Nat’s name. Past awards have been made to young people in the South West of England to provide a head start in their drive to express themselves, find freedom and purpose from being with boats and on the water.
This year to mark what would be Nat’s 40th birthday on December 5th we are raising money to award an organisation, and therefore benefit more people, rather than an individual. We have selected the inspiring Scottish organisation, GalGael to receive the 2014 award. The Nathaniel Symington Charitable Trust will match the funds raised to donate to GalGael. So, if we raise our target of £500, GalGael will receive £1000.
Why GalGael ?
Galgael uses boat-building and woodwork to rebuild lives in the Glasgow areas. Nats had become a keen woodworker and taken time out to attend a boat-building course in Washington State (US). It turns out that Galgael is using woodwork and boatbuilding to help individuals rebuild their lives. In their own words : « GalGael provides learning experiences anchored in practical activities that offer purpose and meaning. We provide a space that serves as something of a safe harbour for those whose lives have been battered by storms such as worklessness, depression or addiction. We offer a workplace that challenges, inspires and creates the conditions conducive to learning; a space where mistakes are not only made but owned as our best teachers, where issues are left at the door and new identities forged.”
Why Donate?
We think it is an inspiring organisation and that Nats would have thought so too. It would mean a lot to us to mark his birthday with a meaningful donation to it. If that’s not enough motivation we have also set ourselves some challenges to prove our commitment to the Trust and GalGael. We’ve got our spanking new walking boots, running shoes, trek-friendly pushchairs and swimming caps on to complete these challenges.
The Challenges:
Val aka “Grandma” will walk 4.5 miles from Fowey to Polkerris in Cornwall
Jonathan, Karolina, Olivia, Alexandra will trek 4 miles in the Los Angeles Canyons (with the trek-friendly double pushchair)
David will run 10 miles in London
Emma and Quentin, aka “Quentin Grandad” (with Becs) will walk 284 steps up the Arc de Triomphe in Paris
Beccs will swim 4 kilometres (80 lengths of 50 m) in Paris
We realise it is difficult to spare money at this time of year but we thought we would give it a try to mark Natty’s 40th birthday. If you can’t make a donation now, don’t worry we will keep the page open beyond Christmas so you can come back to it later.
We’ll provide updates and photos as we progress toward these goals so watch this space…