Stephanie Massie
Writing for the Bath Women’s Fund newsletter near two days celebrating women - International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day - has led to me reflecting on the women who inspire me, the things of which I am most proud and the things that are keeping me sane….
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My inspirational women are my mum, nan and great-grandmothers who were all working women. My mum inspired me to get a good education; have a strong work ethic and help those in need. She also instilled in me the importance of eating well and the joy of walking.
I work at Bath Festivals and Gympanzees, a Bristol charity supporting disabled young people and their families through a home lending library of specialist disabled play equipment and holiday ‘pop-up’ play and therapy sessions.
I have been lucky enough to work with some inspirational women including Allison Todd at Mercy in Action, Ruth Keily at Mentoring Plus, Katy Massey, Sue East at St Andrews School, Hazel Plowman at Bath Festivals and now Stephanie Wheen at Gympanzees. The woman that has made an impression on me recently is Amanda Gorman, US National Youth Poet Laureate, whose hopeful poem ‘The Hill we climb’ at Joe Biden’s inauguration blows me away.
What I’m most proud of:
Co-ordinating an emergency container of aid to the Philippines with Mercy in Action in the immediate aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
The atmosphere and lasting impact on the Girls’ Group of the Mentoring Plus fundraising Fashion Show which I organised in 2018 and winning a Bath Life Award with the Mentoring Plus team.
Successful Arts Council bids to support Bath Festivals and The Forum through Covid.
Having two children who have empathy and a work ethic: Ben has spent his year out before Uni helping me deliver food boxes to vulnerable families with Action Pantry, and volunteering in the vaccine clinic with Mercy in Action. He ran the Bath Half Marathon for Mentoring Plus aged 17. Grace walked the 12 miles Bath Beat to raise sponsorship for Mentoring Plus aged 12, modelled in the Fashion Show and loves helping with the Mercy in Action shoebox appeal each Christmas.
I’m delighted to be a part of the Bath Women’s Fund though I can’t wait to see people face-to-face as I am a people person and something about Zoom makes my brain freeze!
I walk nearly every day, I have probably walked my fave local walk to Kelston Roundhill nearly 100 times in the past year! Putting all that training to good use, I’m undertaking the 3 Peaks Challenge in June to raise money for Gympanzees if anyone fancies joining me (places still available) or sponsoring me that would be really appreciated.