We walk a marathon!

With just over two months to go to the big event, training is getting serious. This weekend 4ever friends walked 27 miles, just a bit longer than a marathon, and managed to do it in 10 hours and 15 minutes. That's nearly half the distance we'll be doing in July, so we're pleased with how the preparations are going so far. And the unseasonal hot weather gave us a taste of what it might be like in July.

Two of the support team joined in for the first part of the training walk, an eight mile circuit of Alton Water, and decided a support team for the support team would be handy. They left mid way through the afternoon so missed the lovely sunset.....

Sunset over Alton Water

Fiesta Italiana!

Our money raising activities go all Italian in June.

On Saturday 11 June, with lots of kind help from Denise, we're organising an Italian themed  fundraising night.   The evening will include; a delicious three course authentic Italian meal plus live music, an auction of promises, a raffle and other activities. And you won't have to go all the way to Italy for this experience; just as far as  Debenham in Suffolk. Tickets are £15.00 each, but hurry - there's only space for 50 people and half the tickets have already gone!

To purchase your ticket contact Alison at alison.sept1st@btinternet.com

And we must just mention those lovely people at Raspberry Village in Norwich who've donated a clock for the raffle....

Ciao!

Now we're cooking!

Progress towards our sponsorship target is just amazing - we've now raised nearly £1200 towards our £1500 target. So a big thank you to all those who've sponsored us to date.

As well as handing over money, people are also helping in kind and so special thanks to Susan, Alison's workmate, and her sister Caroline. Together, they have prepared our big book of recipes which we're now selling for the cause. Not only have they given their time but also, through Caroline's printing business, they've donated the paper etc to get the books printed. And copies are now selling like hot cakes (sorry)!

Sponsorship update

The great news is that we've now raised £915 towards our target of £1500. As we're walking 100 kms, that means we're aiming to raise £15 for every kilometre we walk which in turn means we've raised the equivalent of  61 kms so far. And when we have walked 61 kms we'll have passed Steyning, the end of the sixth stage of the walk, and be on our way to Devil's Dyke.

Devil's Dyke

According to legend, the devil was digging a trench to allow the sea to flood the churches in Sussex. The digging disturbed an old woman who lit a candle. This made the devil believe that it was already morning and he fled the site leaving behind a large V-shaped valley in the chalk grassland. According to one website, it is the largest dyke in the UK and here's a lovely view of it.

The photo has been copied from the National Trust website. Devil's Dyke is just one of many sites managed by the Trust - click here for more info www.nationaltrust.org.uk

If at first the boots don't work.....

When you have a bad boot day, as Heather did recently on the 20 mile training walk, then what you have to do is have another walk to make friends with your boots again. Which is why Heather and Helen were eating fish and chips on the Norfolk coast this weekend. To be fair that came after the 10 mile walk from Warham to Wells and back. The walk went well, Heather's boots came through with flying colours and she said she could do it all over again.

Flip flops - not necessarily Heather's

Another thing we've learnt is how much changing footwear helps the when doing long walks. Heather changed into flip-flops  at the end of the walk which really helped her. Now to see whether the team will do their next training walk entirely in flip-flops. Somehow......