Category: Challenge Series

Walker Norman Meredith has been on the go virtually non-stop since he started his charity challenge.

He completed his mission to cover 1,000 miles in 100 days on Christmas Eve but has hardly put his feet up since.

Norman Meredith during his challenge. 

Norman, from Mottram St Andrew, said: “I think I rested for one day once I’d finished, but I’ve become so addicted to walking I’ve been out on seven or eight mile walks every day.

“It’s been great for my general fitness, I’ve lost weight and slept like a baby. I’d definitely recommend the exercise.”

Norman is raising funds for East Cheshire Hospice in memory of his father Dennis (86) who died in November 2018.

Dennis was chairman of the Macclesfield-based Prince Albert Angling Society – one of the biggest fishing clubs in Europe – for 25 years.

In his final days he was cared for by Hospice @Home nurses.

Norman said: “The Hospice were magnificent and I’d like everyone to know just how good they were. I vowed to do some fundraising and given the current circumstances felt it was appropriate to do something now.”

“The Hospice needs all the financial help it can get at this difficult time. Care is provided free of charge so any fundraising makes a difference.”

Dennis Meredith and wife Alma.

The retired sales executive used various routes as he kept to his average distance of 10 miles a day.

“I was amazed how many new friends I made who live within half a mile of my house just by going for a walk. People I didn’t know before would stop for a chat.”

A weekly route was to Aldi where he bought two bottles of Chilean Pinot Noir. “I became known as Clinking Norman because I’d got my favourite tipple in my rucksack.

“I was always very active, running marathons and half marathons, and played sport and have enjoyed walking.”

* To sponsor Norman visit justgiving.com/fundraising/norman-meredith

Norman Meredith on his 1,000-mile walk in aid of East Cheshire Hospice.

A taxi ride home after running for almost 17 hours was welcome relief for Victoria McKibben and Jake Crabtree.

The couple had run 50 miles from their Bollington home to Cannock Chase in Staffordshire to raise funds for East Cheshire Hospice.

They had intended to keep going for 24 hours but fatigue took over so they reluctantly completed the last part of their journey by taxi from Stoke, having completed 70 miles.

Victoria, a primary school teacher, said: “We’d set off at 10 am and ran most of the way along canals and country lanes, stopping only for short walking breaks.

Victoria McKibben and Jake Crabtree setting off on their 17-hour run.

“We tried to get all the way back to complete 100 miles but our bodies suddenly started to seize up at 2.30 am when the cold hit us. I could feel my eyes closing as we were running.

“We were chuffed to run 20 miles further than we’ve done before and beat our fundraising target by raising £1,025 for the Hospice.”

They had entered a challenge to run from Meriden in Warwickshire, but that was cancelled because of lockdown so they joined a substitute event in which runners attempted to run for a day from home.

Hospice Marketing Manager Amy Chatwood said:  “What an amazing effort by Victoria and Jake and everyone at the Hospice sends them our heartfelt thanks. They pushed themselves to the limit and we’re humbled and surprised at the lengths fundraisers go to raise money.”

* To sponsor Victoria and Jake visit justgiving.com/fundraising/escapefrommeriden2020.

Accounts Assistant Rob Gorton has almost lost count of his challenges cancelled this year.

He signed up for a dozen fundraising events in aid of East Cheshire Hospice, completing just two before lockdown.

Rob, from Macclesfield, had organised seven 10ks and three trail runs until the pandemic spoiled his plans.

He did run several events as virtual races and has signed up for them all again in 2021.

His most exciting adventure is a trek across the Sahara Desert next November (13-20) in the Hospice’s next overseas trip.

Another unusual challenge is a 39-mile cliff-top coastal walk next June around Guernsey where he lived for three years.

Rob said: “I want to raise as much as I can for the Hospice and am hopeful I can do this in 2021, along with Born Survivor at Capesthorne Hall with other members from RISE, a fitness centre in Macclesfield.

“A number of family and friends have been cared for at the Hospice in the last few years, including a school friend Sam Burt who raised a lot of money for the charity himself.”

Rob, who works for Lennards Chartered Accountants, has helped out behind the bar at Hospice quiz nights at Marlborough School.

Rob added: “I’m really excited by the Sahara trek. I kept seeing the Hospice advertise an information evening and got more tempted, especially as I wanted to tackle something more active.”

* To support Rob’s running challenge visit justgiving.com/fundraising/robert-gorton3. For his Sahara trek visit justgiving.com/fundraising/rob-gorton.

Rob Gorton who is tackling a series of challenges for East Cheshire Hospice.

Sailor Heather Broadbent will have to wait until next August to resume her round-the-world voyage because of Covid-19.

The landscape gardener has already raised a staggering £29,000 for East Cheshire Hospice from her epic adventure.

Heather is taking part in the Clipper 2019-20 Round the World Yacht Race which was suspended in February after reaching the Philippines.

Organisers hoped the race would resume early in 2021 but a resumption has been delayed because of the on-going pandemic.

Heather, from Disley, is determined to carry on with her aim of raising £40,000 – a pound for each mile of the race – to support the Hospice @Home service. Her late husband Adam (45) was a patient at the Hospice.

Heather Broadbent on her round-the-world voyage.

She said: “I’m excited for the re-start and I’ve kept in touch with other members of  our crew, including the skipper.  I met up with some of them in Scotland after coming home.

“The challenge was to try to complete the race in one go and that can’t happen because of the strange circumstances but I still feel very proud and privileged for what I’ve achieved.”

Heather, from Disley, took up mountain biking after getting home. She set sail from the River Thames in September 2019 on board GoToBermuda, one of 11 yachts in the fleet.

As things stand, she will eventually reach the UK finish line early in 2022 -almost two and a half years after she departed on what should have been a single 11-month journey.

Heather was a novice sailor before she entered the race. She said: “The crew have been keeping up with our sailing skills and learning as much as we can through online courses.

“My log book shows I travelled 27,000 miles. I’m staying positive and want to thank everyone who’s kindly donated so far. Hopefully, I’ll still reach my fundraising target and any further help would be fantastic.”

Heather went to South America, South Africa and Australia, where she spent last Christmas, before reaching the Far East before the interruption six months into the race.

The race once it resumes will have three Chinese stopovers before crossing the North Pacific to Seattle, then Panama and Bermuda before the final Atlantic leg to Britain.

* To sponsor Heather visit justgiving.com/fundraising/dreamitnowdoit.

Heather Broadbent on her round-the-world voyage.

Learning how to ride a road bike has inspired teenager Tom Escott-Smith who is determined to help others.

The Fallibroome Academy pupil raised more than £950 for East Cheshire Hospice after cycling 440 miles.

Now the 13-year-old from Prestbury, who has dyspraxia, is showing two youngsters fostered by his mum Lesley how to ride as well.

Tom’s feet have hardly touched the ground since personal trainer Richard Storer gave him the confidence to get into the saddle.

Mum Lesley said: “Tom’s quite proud of his achievements because he only really started riding two years ago. He wanted to do something useful and helpful during lockdown and the racing bike has transformed him and developed his physique.

“He was committed and cycled every day. His school was very supportive and awarded him a certificate in recognition of his community work.”

The challenge equalled the distance to the family home of Lesley’s father at Findochty, near Cullen Bay, Scotland, where the local hotel fully supported and sponsored Tom.

Lesley and Tom had intended to join the Light Up The Night memory walk, organised by the Hospice.

Tom said: “We’ve done the walk each year so when it was called off, I looked for an incentive.

“I wanted to keep fit and active and do some good for charity and the Hospice does a brilliant job. I did some of the challenge from my own lounge during lockdown.”

* To sponsor Tom visit justgiving.com/fundraising/lesley-smith84

Tom Escott-Smith who raised £950 from a cycling challenge. 

Running for 24 minutes is long enough for most but a Bollington couple are attempting to keep going for a staggering 24 hours!

Victoria McKibben and Jake Crabtree are taking part in long-distance challenge from Meriden, the geographical centre of England, in aid of East Cheshire Hospice.

They will set off from the Warwickshire village at 6 pm on Friday, November 13, and see how far they can travel on foot within a 24-hour time limit.

More than 200 runners will leave at staggered start times with GPS tracking devices determining the winners who go the furthest in any direction as the crow flies.

Victoria and Jake, a contracts manager, will navigate roads and footpaths with Manchester Cathedral – around 100 miles away – their target destination.

Victoria, a primary school teacher, said: “We’ve been training hard but the most we’ve run is a 50-mile ultra marathon in the Peak District last year which took 13 hours.

“We want to keep running as much as possible and will only stop for a few minutes’ rest if necessary. Hopefully, we’ll spur each other on to keep going.

“We’ll have a rucksack but don’t want to carry too much and will have enough refreshments to keep us going through the night before we top up on water and food.

“We often donate to the Hospice and would like to raise £1,000 for a wonderful local charity.”

* To sponsor them visit justgiving.com/fundraising/escapefrommeriden2020.

Jake Crabtree and Victoria McKibben and training for their 24-hour running challenge.