CORNWALL TO CAPEHORN CHALLENGE FOR NEWLIFE
April 2010
Here at the Newlife Foundation there is a strong history of people putting themselves out of the way to raise money for disabled children. We caught up with Ben Davenport who is about to embark on a 37 country, 14-month trip from Cornwall to Capehorn, in Argentina to raise £100,000. Ben was diagnosed with Noonan Syndrome and has decided to do the solo trip in his Landover.
Q. Why have you decided to do this challenge?
A. There are lots of people who have done various routes in the world, but I’ve decided to do this one as it’s never been done before.
Q. How have your preparations for the trip been going?
A. It’s been rocky. Nothing has gone really smoothly, and there have been some real challenges with sponsors pulling out at the last minute and issues with my visas that need to be sorted out. It’s been a lot of work but I know it’s for a good cause.
Q. What are you hoping to achieve?
A. I want to raise £100,000 for charity but I also want to raise awareness of the work of charities as well, which is sometimes a bigger challenge than raising funds. Hopefully by doing this drive more people will hear about the work of Newlife.
Q. How are you making sure that you’re healthy enough to do the trip?
A. I have always had a real passion for traveling as it’s about experiencing new cultures and new experiences and so I don’t want my health to get in the way of that at all. My health is ok at present, but I have always wanted to push myself, and this is a good way to do it. In the past I’ve been held back by so many things and so I really work hard to push myself to the utmost.
Q. What kinds of things have held you back in your past?
A. I have Noonan’s Syndrome and the physical aspects of this meant that I was always bullied at school. I also felt like I didn’t fit in. I wasn't different enough to be classed as disabled, nor was I ordinary enough to be classed as ‘normal’. I fell between two stools, and that is a lonely place to be. I was injected with growth hormones from the age of eight to 16, and had various operations, so there were lots of things that could have held me back when I was young.
Q. What would you say to other children who have Noonan’s Syndrome who feel like they are facing various challenges?
A. Because of my past, I know exactly what they’re going through and the kind of things they’re facing. I know that they probably feel alone, as if there isn’t anyone else who really understands. When I was younger I felt no one understood me either but I got through that by finding things that I was good at and really enjoyed. I enjoy traveling and when I was younger I took part in horse riding which meant I took part in activities with people who shared my interests. At school, everyone is dumped together, but if you are part of a common interest group it can help. It’s a great way to build up your confidence and that’s exactly what happened to me – and look what I’m planning on doing now!
Ben is planning on leaving the UK at the end of April. For more information see www.cornwall2capehorn.com, call 07812122205 or for further details about the Newlife Foundation see www.newlifecharity.co.uk.
