6 Leighton Buzzard 'hikers' complete 100km Challenge for Dogs & Dinner
Six intrepid men from Leighton Buzzard successfully completed a charity walk at the weekend to support two worthy causes - and their knees!
The team, Richard Hughes, Josh Goodwin, Jack Harris, Charlie Denham, Ben Mason and Aaron Wagner, took on the challenge on April 25, which was something, they say, that should have been left to fitter, lighter, and more sensible people.
The challenge was to walk 100 kilometres in 24 hours along the South Downs Way, finishing in Eastbourne.
The route included climbing 9,209ft, the equivalent of climbing Ben Nevis twice or walking up the Shard 20 times. It’s also roughly the same as stacking eight Eiffel Towers, climbing three quarters of the height of Mount Fuji, or climbing 184 flights of stairs.
And the challenge was undertaken by men who describe themselves as of varying athletic ability – and carrying backpacks, but they were determined to complete it, “In one go. On foot. And with a combined BMI that is outrageously high.”
The fundraiser, organised to support St Mark’s Meals, and Appledown Rescue And Rehoming Kennels, has raised nearly £1,600 towards a target of £3k.
A post on their fundraiser page stated: “Despite the jokes, the suffering, and the very real possibility of catastrophic chafing, we were walking for two incredible causes:
“Appledown Rescue And Rehoming Kennels, who give stray and unwanted dogs a warm bed, proper food, medical treatment, and love until the perfect forever home comes along. They never put a dog to sleep unless absolutely necessary. Every dog gets a second chance.
“And St Mark’s Meals which ensures kids have dinner so they don’t go to bed hungry. Their motto says it all: “We can’t fix every problem, but we can sort dinner.”
“Every donation helps these incredible causes and gives us the motivation to keep walking when our legs have fully resigned from service.
“If you can donate, thank you. If you can share, thank you. If you can send blister plasters, an extra thank you.
“Thanks for supporting us, the dogs, and the kids, and for giving this squad of mildly overweight, poorly dressed hikers a reason to keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
You can still support the fundraiser here.