Wayne Dixon and his dog Koda are currently in Dumfries and Galloway while on their 7000 mile trek around Britains coastline on an epic litter picking journey. Mathew Dow contacted DGWGO to tell us “I Wayne on Tuesday when he was litter picking the bus stop outside my house, and I invited him in for a coffee and a bowl of soup , we fed Koda too.
The adventure will started on 1 February, with Wayne and Northern Inuit dog Koda leaving Knott-end-on-Sea, Lancashire.
The journey is planned to take around a year to complete, with Wayne taking a full rucksack of supplies, and camping along the way.
You can follow wayne on his journey via facebook on this link https://www.facebook.com/wayne.dixon.7543
Wayne, 44, from Lowergate, Clitheroe, is planning on not only litterpicking as he goes, but also holding litter picking events at beaches, villages and in towns and cities.
The first litter picking clean-up will take place at 10.30am on 1 February, to celebrate the start of the mammoth walk. Wayne is asking for people to join him on the first three miles of his trek, along the sea front at Knott end. All litter collected is going to be recorded, so Wayne will know how many items have been picked up during the year.
Wayne said, “I have always been concerned about Britain’s litter issue, and whilst training for my walk, I noticed quite a lot of litter, especially in beautiful places, so I started to pick the litter up.
“I thought it would really frustrate me if I were to come across a lot of litter on my walk, so I came up with the idea of litter picking along the way.
“I’m using this personal adventure to do my part in cleaning up the country and promoting Keep Britain Tidy with the hope of empowering others not to drop litter and to add litter picking in their daily routine and lead by example.
“Hopefully along the way I can encourage people to take part in litter picks and make a difference. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for some time and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.”
Wayne, along with his sidekick Koda, is fulfilling a lifelong ambition by walking around the Britain coast, has been inspired not only by Keep Britain Tidy and the Clean for The Queen campaign, but walking in memory of his late father, John, who passed away in 2012. Wayne and his dad did many long distance walks together, and had started to walk sections of the British coast a couple of years before John died.
Wayne’s family and friends will be supporting him along the way, whilst Wayne is also raising money for the mental health charity Mind and the Northern Inuit Dog Rescue Society.
And what is Wayne going to miss the most whilst away? “I’m going to miss my family and friends, my bed, a Sunday roast and BBC Radio 6!”
Please contact Wayne on 07861 708949 if you would like to join him on any of his litter picking events.
Keep up to date with Wayne and Koda on social media.
If anyone would like to sponsor Wayne on his adventure, click here.
