A New Zealander on a Mission: Letters about the Galapagos Islands!

A New Zealander on a Mission: Letters about the Galapagos Islands!

Jonny Beardmore, a New Zealand native, experienced a dramatic change in his life when he received the news in 2014 that his father had motor neurone disease. This complex and long-term disease affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and leads to progressive muscle weakness. Diagnostics is a demanding process that is often lengthy and requires multiple tests to rule out other causes, such as DocCheck described in detail.

Beardmore returned to New Plymouth to care for his father during this difficult time. Despite the shocking circumstances, his father died in October 2022. As a result, Jonny sank into despair and sought a way back to the joy of life. In early 2023, he took a trip to the Galápagos Islands, where he visited the Post Office Bay on Floreana Island. There has been an old whiskey barrel there since 1793 that serves as a mailbox, and Jonny found joy in delivering the letters dropped off there.

A new mission

During this time, Jonny decided to start his own mission: He wanted to deliver letters from the old whiskey barrel to recipients around the world for a year. In March 2024 he returned to the Galápagos Islands and brought with him 55 letters and postcards from every continent. His ambitious goal was to deliver a letter a week to at least 52 countries on all seven continents.

Delivery was not always easy. While delivering his 50th letter in Bergen, Norway, there was a temporary misunderstanding: a woman mistook his selfie stick for a weapon, which almost led to his arrest. Despite the challenges, Jonny remained optimistic and continued his mission to deliver a love letter in Belize, which ultimately led to a couple being reunited.

Special connections

A particularly moving moment for Jonny was receiving a thank you letter from a daughter to her seriously ill mother in Mexico. Since then, Jonny has maintained contact with both of them, cherishing the emotional bonds he made through his journey. After completing his trip, he held a party in London to which he invited everyone he had met during his experiences. These events enriched his life and helped him feel joy and connection again.

Jonny's journey not only forms a personal journey of healing, but also raises public awareness of the devastating effects of Motor Neurone Disease. The intensive discussion of this disease shows how important it is to raise awareness and to form strong social networks in order to help those affected and their relatives.