Steve's Ridgeway Challange for Prospect Hospice
Steve Wall is raising money for Prospect Hospice
Participants: Steve Wall
Story
On Saturday 28th, and through to Sunday 29th August 2010, I will be running The Ridgeway Challenge, 85 Miles over 24 hours, to raise a targeted total of £4000 for Prospect Hospice. Please support me and Prospect Hospice by donating.
The Challenge
The Ridgeway Challenge is a globally recognised long-distance trail run that commences early on 28th August, through the day and into nightfall, across pitch black unlit terrain, and into the following day. This journey traverses four Southern counties – climbing 9000 feet of accumulated ascent – and spanning 85 miles from start to finish [the equivalent distance of to ]. This punishing run is a whole half-marathon longer than the entire coast-to-coast distance of . The surface terrain varies substantially along the 85 miles which, in pleasant weather, is mainly uneven and chalk-rutted farm paths and green lanes. After any rain, the path turns to mud and potholes, which becomes substantially more treachorous in the dark. The first officially organised trail run of the Ridgeway was in 2004, making this the 7th ever Ridgeway Challenge.
The Path
At 5000 years old, the Ridgeway is deemed to be ’s oldest footpath. In use since Neolithic times, and throughout the Bronze Age as an ancient trading route, the path originally extended across the entire chalk ridge from Dorset to Lincolnshire. Saxons and Vikings used the road to move their respective armies, while in medieval times, the path was used to drove livestock to markets in the Home Counties and . Fifty centuries of human development have interrupted this vast trail, but what remains today is still a formidable 85 miles of all-season National Trail [one of only fifteen in the country] which hugs the ridge tops of open downland west of the Goring Gap and the tree-covered Chiltern Hills east of the River Thames.
The Prospect Hospice
Sponsorship received for this challenge will be donated to the Prospect Hospice, which is based in Wroughton. For thirty years Prospect has provided the only dedicated end of life care service for the 300,000 people living in our community – bringing care, comfort and confidence around the clock every day of the year. The care they provide has expanded and evolved over the years, and their current aim for the future is to bring more care for patients and practical and emotional support for their carers and family.
Prospect Hospice’s dedicated end of life care last year reached more than 1,400 people living with cancer and other serious conditions in Swindon, north Wiltshire, and also in Fairford and Lechlade in Gloucestershire. They care for people in their own homes, in care homes, at the and at the Hospice in Wroughton. My target in this challenge is to raise a total of £4000 towards this cause.
Thank you for your kind donation.
Steve