Can you help young sportsmen and women in Gambia with any spare trainers or kit?

By Don Hale

URGENT APPEAL TO HELP YOUNG SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN IN GAMBIA.

Spare trainers, and sports kit urgently wanted for underprivileged athletes...

Report by Don Hale.

 

North Wales Road Runner Steve Forsyth is appealing for any unwanted sports items including trainers, running t-shirts, vests, socks, shorts, unused gels, gloves, hats, and scarfs etc for use by underprivileged young athletes in Gambia.


*Steve Forsyth (above) is appealing for trainers and kit for Gambia.

Steve, who recently travelled to visit family and relatives in that country is urgently trying to fill a barrel load of equipment to send out there as soon as possible, and especially in time for potential participants in the local Banjul marathon.

He confirmed: ‘Wanted please, your unwanted, or no longer used, men’s and women’s trainers, together with any other unwanted sports gear. 

‘I am sending them to Gambia for people who can’t afford trainers. I am happy to collect from any corner of the UK and note that we already have received some serious shoes including Saucony racing flats, to Nike racers.’

And ideally, Steve is also hoping that some sort of association may be developed in time with The Gambia Police running team, together with any potential twinning arrangements, or a possible exchange deal for young athletes.

*If anyone has any suitable items, they can be brought to the Conwy parkrun either this Saturday morning or next. It is situated at he RSPB site, and they can be left from 8.15am to 10am. Steve is also available via Facebook if required.

Don Hale is a former award winning investigative journalist and now a best-selling author who has created a very popular blog post linked to numerous social media sites. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025.

Comments

Post a Comment

Most recent posts

Road Runners enjoyed the sun-drenched relay races on the prom.

By Don Hale
Image
*The NWRRC relay runners are pictured on Llandudno prom before the start. Road Runners enjoyed the sun-drenched relay races on the prom. Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry. blog   Members of North Wales Road Runners enjoyed a very warm and sun-drenched evening of annual summer relay races last Tuesday night on Llandudno promenade. The event which started and finished near the pier included six teams of mixed ability male and female athletes with each member running one of three varied distances along courses packed with visitors. The club relay championship was eventually won by Team 3, followed by Team 1, and then Team 5. The teams and finishing times in order of merit were as follows:   Team 3  – Gwen Charlton 5.14, Molly Evans 12.16, and Mal Preece 26.57.  Team 1:  Don Hale 5.23, Tony Gibson 13.11, and Will Evans 27.04.  Team 5:  Kevin Higgins 5.23, Richard Scamans 11.59, and Adam Lemalle 27.13. Team 2:  Helen Hannam 4....
Read more

New Golden Welsh record for Steve Gardner at the Masters finals.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - Steve Gardner won a gold medal and set a new Welsh record in the 800m race during the Masters T&F Inter-Area meeting. New Golden Welsh record for Steve Gardner at the Masters Inter-area finals at Yate... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk North Wales Road Runner Steve Gardner, who has represented Team GB at various track championships at home and abroad, claimed a great new PB, set a new Welsh record and struck gold in the 800m race at the Masters Inter-Area T&F championships at Yate. This time competing for  Welsh Masters Athletics , veteran Steve was one of nine top Welsh athletes who won their respective age categories at this prestigious event, and he also smashed the current Welsh MV60 cat, subject to ratification, after finishing second in his race in 2 minutes 15.34 seconds, and he was only just behind World record holder  Rob McHarg  of Scotland. *Pictured above right - S...
Read more

North Wales parkrun results round up...

By Don Hale
Image
*The final dash to the line at Conwy parkrun with young athletes Tim Perry from the Isle of Man (*above left) with Joe Culverhouse. They both shared the exact same time as the first finishers. North Wales parkrun results round up... Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry. blog   Fell and mountain runner Josh Keogh was the first finisher on his course debut at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday with a superb time of just 16 minutes and 37 seconds. This event again attracted a host of top and talented club runners including visitor  Robin Stacey  (York Acorn), who was second in 17.18, and teenage debutant  Oliver Woodman  (Ivanhoe Runners), third in 17.28, with  James Yarwood  (Wrexham AAC) and his famous twin buggy, this week pushed down into 4th place in 17.28. The first four runners all ran under 18 minutes, and indeed the first 22 finishers all dipped all 20 minutes. The ladies als...
Read more

Special 5k memorial run for Jon Dalzell on Llandudno prom

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - some of the many Dalzell Runners and supporters on the prom at Llandudno last Monday for their memorial 5k run. And (*below) some action shots of numerous entrants. Special 5k memorial run for Jon Dalzell on Llandudno prom Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Jonathan Kettle and Dalzell Runners. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Dozens of local runners took part in a special 5k run last Monday evening on Llandudno promenade to help keep athlete Jon Dalzell’s memory alive. This unique event commemorated the fact that the former North Wales Road Runner tragically lost his life three-years ago, yet, for the past two years, members of the supportive Dalzell Running group, have since organised a social run with hospitality, to share recollections of his short but amazing life. Jonathan Kettle,  who was a close friend of Jon’s, and is now a coach with Dalzell Runners, later confirmed:  “Monday 17th August will be three years since we lost ...
Read more

Master’s Inter Area T&F Championships - Sunday 2nd August – at Yate

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above and below - some great  photos of the Welsh Masters Athletics  team members at the recent Inter-Area championships at Yate. Master’s Inter Area T&F Championships - Sunday 2nd August – Yate Special report courtesy of Gareth Robbins. Photos by Aled Hughes and Joe Horner. donhaleblog.bogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog. www.welshmasterathletics.co.uk The men’s team provisionally finished 5th – with 2 events still to be declared by the end of the day.  The ladies team finished a wonderful 4th overall, meaning that the combined scores provisionally gave us a 4th place finish.  Special mention to all our debutants at this event, well done everyone pulling on the red Welsh vest for the first time.  The team produced some brilliant performances across the board, with a total of 9 Welsh age group records broken (subject to ratification):  -                M65 – 100mH – I...
Read more

NEW Sequel to the amazing serial killer crime novel -Leading a Double Life - by William Austin Johnson.

By Don Hale
Image
READ ABOUT WILLIAM AUSTIN JOHNSON'S LATEST SERIAL KILLER SEQUEL NOVEL: donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 :  Leading a Double Life Two (Book 2)  exciting new paperback by William Austin Johnson. NOW available on Amazon:   https://amzn.to/4awefr8 Synopsis: As a writer you somehow want to finish the story in your book with a good ending, but with this book I felt that I had run out of scenario’s to go on any further. Then one day out of the blue, a news story of a murdered family sparked my interest. I could not get this story out of my mind. So, as you can see from the title above. I was drawn back into trying to give these unspoken victims the justice that they deserved with the demise of Tony Fennel. To get the information that I needed on Fennel, of course, I had to go back to my old friend Mike Rodsinkski. Mike told me that he had missed me, and that he had several cases that he thought I could help him with. So came the scammers, the opportunist, a bent Police Officer...
Read more

Mother's Love - a dramatic and inspirational new book by Carla Heath - Special Coast and Country Author Spotlight Feature.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above  - Carla Heath - with her dramatic new book Mother's Love. Special Coast and Country Author Spotlight Feature. Welcome to another new author feature in conjunction with Amazon.   Mother’s Love by Carla Heath.   Published by North Wales based firm:   www.bookpublishing4u.co.uk   www.donhaleblog.blogspot.com coastandcountry.blog *Read Carla’s fascinating new book which is now available on Amazon via this link:   https://amzn.to/3ASdQQF ABOUT THE AUTHOR : Mother’s Love by Carla Heath.   This is a personal experience of the journey of the author life growing up.  I felt I needed to share my story for others who may have encountered a troubled childhood and give them inspiration and encouragement that you can turn things around and overcome difficulties to thrive when you are an adult and accomplish your own personal aspirations and goals. This book reaches out to wide audience who enjoy real life stories. It is in my own words. It is a...
Read more

Book publishing services, proof reading, copy editing, and online business features and promotions.

By Don Hale
Image
  EVERYONE HAS A BOOK IN THEM.. Book Publishing, proof reading, copy editing, and online business features and promotions. Best selling author Don Hale offers a unique service to other budding authors... It is always said that everyone has a book in them! Many people may have produced a manuscript years ago, and then just left it gathering dust in the spare room, or hidden in a draw. Now is the time to revisit that project and to tell the world about your story! Would you like become a fully-fledged published author? Earn royalties from your old scribblings, and produce a copy of yearbook for friends or family etc? We can help you in any way from the initial proof reading, to full copy editing, and/or the complete publishing process for your book/poetry/arts project. We provide advice and support all the way and we will also help you with the design, ISBN, and barcodes. Further details are available from:  donhalelog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog We work in conjunctio...
Read more

Special murder, mystery and intrigue books by exciting crime writer William Austin Johnson.

By Don Hale
Image
Special Coast and Country Author Spotlight Feature Welcome to another new author feature in conjunction with Amazon. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 An Eclectic Mix of 7 Short Stories – Murder, Mystery & Intrigue. By William Austin Johnson & his crime thriller Leading a Double Life. *NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON AUDIO: An Eclectic Mix of Short Stories:   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FGQK98N2 *NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON AUDIO:  Leading a Double Life:   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FGF2V3WC About the book of short stories:   They say that Silence is Golden, so, when it’s time to read your book, that is just what you want, some peace and quiet to absorb each and every word, each line, each sentence, and each paragraph, and each chapter until the very end.  That is exactly why the code in all libraries is silence please. Of course, most books are of one particular subject from beginning to end. There is also the saying that Variety is the Spice of Life, and this book is...
Read more

Special author spotlight about Eileen McCourt from Northern Ireland.

By Don Hale
Image
  *Pictured above - prolific Northern Ireland  author  Eileen McCourt S pecial Coast and Country Author Spotlight Feature Welcome to a new author feature about  Eileen McCourt.   Report by Don Hale:  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Eileen McCourt is a retired schoolteacher of English and History with a master’s degree in history from University College Dublin.  She is a prolific author, writer, and researcher, and she has now  completed  over 50 varied books which have all been published by the popular North Wales based company . Eileen lives in Northern Ireland, and her very first book ‘Living the Magic - Connecting the physical and spiritual worlds’ was published in 2014. It received much praise and numerous 5-star reviews.  Her books have also been featured by Amazon in America. This was the catalyst for her career as a spiritual author, with many books published to date. Her life is now devoted to he...
Read more