Thanks for considering sponsorship. It's a serious challenge and I will need the incentive. The incentive I've chosen to support financially is a charitable effort I already support as a voluntary trustee board member.

UPDATE 14 July 2017 :  One day challenge completed in 13 hours 20 minutes (03:40 to 17:00 Friday 14th July 2017), in ideal conditions.

UPDATE 10 June 2017 : Disaster averted. Sadly the group didn't complete the Lyke Wake Walk one day challenge, but no-one died. Four of us completed the whole route on the second day, and another four managed most of it.

Having started at 4am with a "red sky in the morning" it was raining by 6am and solid horizontal rain on the high ground from then until mid-day as we approached the 20 mile half-way checkpoint, just before the worst of the boggy sections. One of us, who had been pacing himself in support of the slowest, was in danger of hypothermia, and another three of the five in the one-day challenge group bailed-out voluntarily along with some of the support group, getting colder as we debated the continuation in the driving wind and rain. So the group decision was to abandon the one day challenge.

The following day, with better weather, four of the five joined the two day group for the second half, and with the bogs simply as boggy as bogs are, we completed the 42 miles in around 15 hours total. The two-day group completed most of it too, electing to avoid most of the bogs.

A couple of us committed to the original challenge are hoping to do the whole one-day walk again before the summer is over. Until then, thanks to all involved. The organisation and the checkpoint logistical support, and particularly to Colin for the en-route support for pacing and pathfinding.

One bonus of failing to meet the one-day challenge was that the whole reunion group was able to be together for two evening meals in the hotel. Great to catch-up with everyone. Thanks to all. Close, but no cigar.

Original Story

The Rationalist Association quite simply promotes human rationality through free-thought. It's a charitable, high-quality publishing effort - The New Humanist - that provides information, argument and promotion of any and all ethical, humanist and humanitarian aims, from individual freedoms and science-based progress to wider education, policy and global governance. (See https://newhumanist.org.uk/history and the RA link above.)

The physical challenge is a 42 mile walk in one day. The 42 miles includes several significant hill climbs as well as trekking over never-ending miles of alternatively boggy and stony moorland. Back in our Guisborough schooldays, for the group of us taking the challenge, this "Lyke Wake Walk" was the traditional challenge of its day along the Cleveland Hills watershed of the North York Moors. (see http://www.lykewake.org/ )

Now that we're all over 60, it seemed like a good idea (!) to combine a reunion with a challenge. Without the incentive it might simply remain a good idea. So here we are - 40 or so miles at 50p or £1 a mile - some multiples of £20 or £40 should provide enough of a push to keep me going to the bitter end.

Many thanks for your sponsorship. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.