Veteran shipping and logistics journalist and podcaster Mike King is hoping to raise $15,000 for an international seafarers’ welfare charity by hiking 200 miles ‘Sea-to-Sea’ in June.
The creator and host of The Loadstar Podcast, and contributor to multiple shipping and logistics publications over the last 20+ years, Mike will walk the historic ‘Offa’s Dyke’, from the Severn Estuary in South Wales to the Irish Sea coast in north Wales.
Starting this June, the trek will take over ten days to complete. He will be walking on behalf of UK-based charity the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN), which has assisted almost 12,000 seafarers and their families and awarded direct grants totaling over $140,000.
Mike was motivated to raise money for seafarers after seeing them treated so poorly during the Covid-19 pandemic when so many were stuck on ships for so long.
Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/200milesseatosea
ISWAN was chosen as the designated charity after King asked some of his most trusted shipping contacts and journalism colleagues for recommendations. Some of the funds will also go towards ISWAN’s Ukraine Crisis Support Fund [www.seafarerswelfare.org/relief-funds/ukraine-crisis-support-fund] which gives small grants to seafarers and their families of any nationality who have been
impacted by the Ukraine crisis and need immediate and urgent financial support.
Offa’s Dyke is an earthwork running from ‘Sea-to-Sea’ which is thought to have been constructed in the 8 th century on the orders of King Offa of Mercia to subdue the Welsh. Mike will be joined on the hike by childhood friend Norman Long. The two will carry all their kit with them and pay all their own costs.
About ISWAN
The International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) is an international maritime charity which works to improve the lives of seafarers and their families with services, resources, strategies and advocacy.
About the Ukraine Crisis Support Fund
The Ukraine Crisis Support Fund is a small grants fund for seafarers and their families of any nationality who have been impacted by the Ukraine crisis and need immediate and urgent financial support. The fund was launched in March 2022 and is being managed by the
International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) on behalf of the Seafarers International Relief Fund (SIRF). It can provide one-time financial grants of up to US$500 to seafarers and their families in need to help with expenses including medical bills,
living costs, or emergency travel. It can also provide compensation of up to US$1,000 to next of kin if a seafarer has died as a direct consequence of the Ukraine crisis.
About SeafarerHelp
SeafarerHelp is ISWAN’s free, confidential helpline which provides support and assistance to seafarers and their families of any nationality, anywhere in the world. The helpline team speaks a number of languages and the helpline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
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