Marc Kendrick, from Home-Start Denbighshire, has completed his latest fundraising challenge to support their volunteers' work with families in North Wales, by walking across the county in a single day.

Marc completed his trek on Saturday 23 July, starting in Llangollen at 7am and arriving in Prestatyn at 5.30, after walking more than 30 miles. So far Marc has raised over £500.

“We have families we support throughout the whole county so it only seemed fitting to include the whole of Denbighshire in this challenge,” explained Marc.

The walk is just the latest in Marc’s annual challenges. He has completed a half-marathon, lived on £1 a day for five days and climbed the highest mountain in Wales, Snowdon.

The support of fundraisers like Marc is vital for local Home-Starts as they attempt to meet the rising need for their services.

Meira Owen, manager of Home-Start Denbighshire, explains: “Demand for the informal, friendly approach that our volunteers give to families who are struggling is on the up. We are seeing more families struggling and every penny raised from this will go to help the families in the county.”

This is the last challenge Marc takes on as a Home-Start employee, as he will soon start a new job. It is a journey that started five years ago when Marc first agreed to become a home-visiting volunteer.

“I first came across Home-Start while waiting for my daughter at school,” recalls Marc. “Rhiannon, the organiser then, convinced me to enrol on the preparation course and become a volunteer. I wasn’t working at that time due to being a single parent and thought it would be something worthwhile to do. I had no idea how it would change my life.”

As a volunteer, Marc supported numerous families over several years. “Each family was very different from the next and each had its own need for support. I played games, visited parks, baked cakes, did crafty things, and learnt so much during that time.”

Marc then started to volunteer at the Home-Start Denbighshire office, helping with admin and IT, before finally taking on a paid position.

“It was the first paid job I had taken in around ten years due to my circumstances. I was finally a wage earner again and could make plans for the future.”

“Working for Home-Start meant I had the opportunity to undertake a lot of further training that helped me better myself and my chances of future employment.”

Marc now has an exciting new paid job role and, while everyone at Home-Start will be sad to see him leave, he will still be making a massive difference to families as he will continue to be a home-visiting volunteer.

“Home-Start is not just life-changing for families,” Marc explains. “As a volunteer I can one hundred percent say that Home-Start changes volunteers’ lives too. It helps us all to a better place in life.”

If you’d like to support Marc’s fundraising for Home-Start Denbighshire, visit his fundraising page.

Click here to find out how you can volunteer for your local Home-Start.