Posted: Thu 5th Sep 2024

‘The Traitors’ star to visit Wrexham on epic 1,200km charity trek

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area

One of the stars of the hit BBC series ‘The Traitors’ is set to visit Wrexham as part of an epic 1,200km trek in aid of Headway – the brain injury association.

Andrew Jenkins, who appeared in the second series of the show, captivated audiences when he disclosed his near-fatal car crash in 1999.

Feared dead at the side of the road, he sustained a severe brain injury, and doctors initially told his parents he would never walk or talk again and might not even wake from his coma.

Against all odds, Andrew made an amazing recovery and has been described as a “miracle patient”.

Andrew, from Talbot Green, Rhondda Cynon Taf, is now preparing to take on a monumental route which will take him through all four UK nations, walking up to a staggering 40km per day.

“I am really pleased to be able to take on this challenge,” explained Andrew.

“My recovery has been a long journey, and I am passionate about talking about my experiences and encouraging others to talk about the adversities they’ve faced in life.

“This route is the perfect opportunity and I’m so excited to meet people along the way, and to raise awareness of the incredible work that Headway does for brain injury survivors across the UK.”

Big Trek – Route Map

Andrew will walk between castles in the UK, starting from Ardross Castle in Scotland where The Traitors was filmed, down to Cardiff Castle in his home city. His journey will include stops at Lancaster Castle in England and Carrickfergus Castle in Northern Ireland.

‘The Big Trek’ will start on September 29 and is expected to take over 40 days.

It will see Andrew reach Wrexham from Ellesmere Port on October 31. He will then set off to Chirk Castle on November 1, before trekking to Arddleen in Powys on November 2.

As well as taking on the physical challenge, Andrew is on a mission to raise awareness of brain injury among communities along the way, by talking about trauma and the importance of addressing mental health openly.

Headway works to improve life after brain injury by providing vital support, advocacy, and information services to brain injury survivors and their families.

The money that Andrew raises will go towards essential Headway services, such as the Emergency Fund, which helps family members be at the bedside of their loved one in critical care, or the charity’s nurse-led helpline, which provides essential information and emotional support to brain injury survivors and their families.

Jen Murgatroyd, Headway’s Director of Fundraising said: “We are proud to have Andrew champion our cause and I’m sure his journey will give hope and inspiration to other brain injury survivors.”

Supporters can contribute to his cause by donating at Andrew’s Givestar page.



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