Thanks for visiting our fundraising page. We are undertaking a big challenge on 30 May 2009 ! NOW SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ! SEE PHOTO OF US AT THE END.... We are all going to walk 100 kilometres (about 60 miles), non stop in less than 30 hours. FINISHED IN 29 HOURS 29 MINUTES We'll be going on a circular route around the glorious Yorkshire Dales, starting and ending in Skipton - via Malham Tarn, the top of Pen-y-Ghent, Horton in Ribblesdale, parts of the Pennine Way, over the tops into Langstrothdale, down the Dales Way through Wharfedale (via Buckden and Kettlewell) and back over the moors to Skipton. Phew - makes me tired just writing it down. Even more tired now we have done it (and in a heatwave !). This is to raise money for Oxfam as part of their Trailtrekker Challenge - the first time this event has been run. Please help this good cause now by sponsoring us. You can still donate !... Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor us: Oxfam gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
So please sponsor us now and pass on our details ! Please keep watching this page for news of our training and how you can help us to get round on the day ! Thanks to everyone who did send us messages of support during the walk - it did help no end, though mobile reception was mixed, so messages often came through much later. John Jenkins, Pete Whitehead, Mike Sanderson, Andy Howard AKA "The Black Sheep" - Well we are walking in the Dales and so had to choose a name in honour of one of our favourite breweries. (and not forgetting Mark Vincent and the Support Team - Wendy, Barbara, Sue, Mary and Linda and all the other supporters who joined us at the walk....Chris, Lauren, John, Janet, Llaura, Gavin, Judy) Keep in touch with our Updates Update 1 (17 Jan 2009) - First team meeting to start the detailed planning for the day. Everyone positive and up for it, but the hard work starts here...... Update 2 (28 Jan 2009) - Training has now started in earnest. Mike says he's going for 4 runs per week. Pete has done a 10 mile road race. John and Andy did a 15 mile walk with another planned this weekend. Andy was also up in the Lakes and fitted in two walks. Some helpful soul suggested entering the 15 mile Great Daffodil Run carrying a rucksack full of bricks as a warm-up event.... Keep the sponsorship coming. Update 3 (2 Feb 2009) - Andy and John did a 21-miler : there may be few hills in Northamptonshire to practise on but there are plenty of calf-sapping claggy fields to cross (but we make sure they lead to excellent pubs). Mike's weekend training consisted of scrambling up and down ladders cutting back apple trees; barrowing loads of bricks for the pathways; drilling holes in the sheds to hang things on and running to get the paper on Sunday morning (what no pubs ?). Well Pete - less pantomime, more training...Thanks again to all our generous sponsors so far. Tell your friends ! Update 4 (11 Feb 2009) - Snow, snow and more snow ! Our trip to Skipton for the Trailtrekker briefing had to be cancelled because of the hazards in travelling. So John did a walk in the snow (fantastic views of Northamptonshire in the sun) plus continuing to walk into work - easiest way in this weather. Mike's training consisted of walking from Tysoe to Oxhill for an evening meal at the Peacock (total of 5 miles) - he admits the Abbot may have undone all the good work from the brisk walk in the darkness. Pete has been laid up in bed - get well soon. We are knocked out by everyone's generous support so far - keep it coming. Update 5 (21 Feb 2009) - Pete is now back pounding the roads a couple of times a week. Andy and John waded through the last of the snow last Sunday morning - surprisingly deep out in the fields, even though it had melted elsewhere. Hope Andy will remember his training while on holiday. Thanks to the great support we've been getting, we've decided to go for a higher target.... Update 6 (14 March 2009) - John walked from Northampton to Olney (and lost his glasses on the way back) and Pete went out running over the same distance, and probably did it about 3 times quicker as a result. Andy (and Wendy) have walked in the Dales and done a gorge walk inTenerife on their holiday. No reports yet from Mike - hope his holiday has been equally active. Our fundraising seems to be stuck on £1495 - will some generous soul help us over the magic £1500.... Update 7 (4 April 2009) - John, Andy & Mike enjoyed a pleasant 18 mile stroll in the sun through Northamptonshire (even Mark from the support team joined in). Pete had enjoyed the beauties of Lochnagar and the 'royal bothy', and training runs for the Stratford Half Marathon. Easter week is coming up - John and Pete off round the Lakes, leaving Mike to do his gardening... The £1500 target is now distantly behind us - looking ahead to a new target thanks to people's fanstastic generosity. Update 8 (17 April 2009) - John & Pete successfully negotiated their way round the Lake District : about 90 miles in 5 days through a real mixture of weather. Thanks to Nigel and Colin for their company. Mike (& Sue) managed a 7 and a half mile return walk to the next village to buy some plants from a plant sale at the village hall, plus lots of digging and planting. Andy walked (gently) on the Norfolk coast and around Bristol. Next week is national 'Walk to Work' Week : John plans to do just that. We are now onto our second page of online sponsors and awaiting confirmation of our first overseas sponsorship, negotiated by Mike. That should take us over £2000. Thanks again to everyone for their support, but more always welocme ! Update 9 (12 May 2009) - Final training has now been done ! Pete and Mike have run two half marathons each in the last few weeks. John ran a 10k and walked in the Brecon Beacons. Andy has been up in the Lakes and for another 25 miler across Northamptonshire. We've done as much as we can to get ready. PLEASE MAKE THE MOST OF THE NEXT FEW WEEKS UP TO THE EVENT TO SPONSOR US - IT WILL ENCOURAGE US NO END and help us get to the magic £2500..... Update 10 (24 May 2009) - This time next week we will have finished the walk (feet permitting). We're all looking forward to it and as fit as we are going to be. Don't forget - text one of us on Saturday 30th to help us round. Thanks to everyone for such generous support, but it's never too late for more ...
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