AmeriCymru spoke to David and Mona Matthews about their forthcoming charity walk along the Wales Coast Path in support of cancer research ( and other ) charities. David and Mona will be setting out on March 1st from Chepstow in south Wales and you can follow their progress on the Mad Walking site and on their Facebook page here . AmeriCymru would like to wish David and Mona every success ( and clement weather ) on their 870 mile odyssey.

AmeriCymru: Hi David and many thanks for agreeing to this interview. You will be walking the Wales coastal path next month in aid of charity. Can you tell us why you decided to do this?

David: Two recurring thoughts have been turning over in my mind over the past few years. The first thought is the need to spend some significant time in my home country to explore, discover and understand things about Wales that as a young person I neglected to do. The second thought, having been fortunate in our life in Canada, was to pay homage to our family members, friends and others who battle or who have fought cancer. When the Wales Coastal Path opened in 2010, Mona and I saw the opportunity to combine both, explore the coast of Wales and raise money for cancer research.

AmeriCymru: What is your connection with Wales?

David: I was born in Aberystwyth and spent my childhood years in the seaside village of Borth exploring what young boys explore, the beach, the cliffs and rocks, the magic around the Ynys, the fishing in the Leri, Cors Fochno, the sand-dunes of Ynys Las, the Dovey estuary, and Aber. Another strong connection was through my mothers family in Carmarthenshire, around Pont-ar-Cothi, Peniel, and Carmarthen itself. My childhood visits to my uncles and aunts and cousins on the farms there stand out in my memory. In 1965 I attended Trinity College, Carmarthen and after three great years became a teacher!

AmeriCymru: What charities will you be supporting and why?

David: We are supporting cancer research and support charities in Wales, Canada and the USA. In Wales, we will be supporting Velindre Hospital, Cardiff, and Macmillan Cancer Support - North Wales, in Canada, the Childhood Cancer Foundation, and in the USA, the American Association for Cancer Research. So many families have unfortunate connections with cancer and we are no exception. We have relatives and friends, and the children of friends today in the USA, Canada and Wales who are battling or have battled this scourge.

AmeriCymru: How can people sponsor or support you?

David: We have a website called madwalking.com. Through that site people may choose to donate to the charity of their choice.

We would love people to interact with us through our blog as we pass through the coastal stretches, villages and towns. This can be done through the website or through the MAD walking Facebook page.

Join us on the walk if you can. Whether it is for a day or more, we would welcome the encouragement and support. You would be able to determine our whereabouts through the blog on www.madwalking.com .

AmeriCymru: How long will the walk take? Will you be breaking anywhere en route?

David: We estimate around 4 months. This will determined by a number of factors such as extreme weather, etc. Every 3rd day or so we will be looking for a rest day to wash and, more likely, dry clothes, recuperate, etc. We have been lucky to have some family members and friends in Wales who have offered their support in this regard. We are still looking for some rest day support on the Lleyn stretch between Caernarvon and Criccieth, and between Criccieth and Aberdovey.

AmeriCymru: Are any organisations or individuals supporting you? Anyone you want to mention?

David: We have the endorsement of the Welsh North America Association and the Calgary Welsh Society. My son-in-law put the website together. We have been fortunate to have the support of many family members in Wales, and friends who we have met through functions such as NAFOW, Cwrs Cymraeg, and through I know somebody who might be able to help... comments.

And thankyou Americymru for your interest!

AmeriCymru: Which part of the route are you most looking forward to?

David: Thats a tough one! I havent walked the Gower or Pembrokeshire before and their coastal walks are renowned. Walking down the Lleyn peninsula and Merioneth coast intrigues me. Anglesey has to be high on the list. D**n it, just about everything is going to be new and exciting, and well be always looking for whats around the next bay, or over the next hill.

AmeriCymru: Any final message for the members and readers of AmeriCymru?

David: Please support us through following our blog and please contribute to the charity of your choice! Diolch yn fawr iawn!