Many thanks to Rich and Famous for their kind contribution of £100 on 13th October, which is most appreciated!!

 

Although never in doubt, the Gurkha trail experience proved to me that I have a determined team that can and will support one another no matter what. You gave it your all and I am proud of you. My hart felt thanks to all who supported us. Mo.

We started the day at 11:50am in Petersfield aiming to finish on the Brighton Pier within 24 hours. This was a planned trip of 56 miles. What a task! We started with Great Spirit this being, Myself Tyson, Mo, Marion, Andy, Scott & from the RSC Richard. Things going really well until we hit a MOUNTAIN at 7 miles. OMG that was hard work but with the spirit of reasons and will we made it. What a view!! We continued and walked and walked and walked.. This hike was now going on and on. With the spirit continuing we reached more hills. At around 11 miles Andy decided to have a slip, trip and fall twisting his ankle and hitting is side on a rock. But like a true soldier he got up dusted himself down, we stopped laughing obviously making sure he was alright first and continued marching across the South Downs. With a break ahead of us we had something to look forward to. We carried on after a little break and with some food and drink (thanks to Sameer the RGM of Chichester) and the night started to fall. Carrying on our next stop was planned in a pub for refreshments and about a half hour break. This was a motivation tool used to drive ourselves forward! We reached the pub at around 22:00. It became a place to take off your shoes, grab and drink and then came our next assistant, Sarah from Hove with some coffee and food to get us further into the night. At this point Scott decided to pass out and be taken away in an ambulance for his sins.. Poor bloke!! We then set off again at 23:00 with the night ahead of us. Strangely enough we were all looking forward to the night. What a strange lot we are. The night started to become a lot cooler but with the pace that we were walking now a 5 man team well Marion too, we mustered through the night with the stars shining over us! We continued until around 01:30 when we met Simon, Marion's other half who also brought us some coffee, water and bits to eat. We took a small rest to see how much we have a head of us with a clear understanding as to which way we were going. It was at this point the 5 man team became 3 as both Richard and Marion could go no further! After filling up with refreshments and me putting some plasters over my blisters we continued. It was now 02:00 with us covering some 30 miles! Great work from them despite having to leave us to soldier on. We aimed to finish. There were now 3 of us; Andy, Mo and myself. We moved on and at the first corner we took without Marion's navigation WE WERE LOST! OMG what now? Nothing to serious all we had to do was run around and take a left and we were back on track. We walked for 3 hours nonstop covering some 7 miles. This was getting harder for me. My blisters were getting worse and I had to stop and take a look! I put some plasters on them and continued at a rate of about 1 MPH. hold both Mo and Andy back. Andy started to ache and Mo was still aiming to finish. We took a wrong turn somewhere and end off course. Not a problem we would still aim to get our final point of the Brighton Pier. We walked, well me stumbling towards the direction we needed and ended up on the A24. This was now about 10 miles from the finish point and I could go no further. Just as I had given up Andy joined me. But Mo, yes Mo wanted to go on! This guy ain't human! I thought of myself of a soldier with determination, drive and fully focused but not Mo! Like many soldiers I had fallen and could go no more. I need rescuing and made a “Mayday” call to now the recovered Scott. But Mo - The MACHINE was off! He was away and focusing on the finishing line. With both Andy and I were rescued from the trenches by Scott at 06:15 Mo was off. Mo carried on walking and walking and finally hit the final destination at 10:10am! Met by Marion with a coffee in hand for this MACHINE we had completed our objective. I say objective loosely as This Machine is part of a great 5 man, 1 woman team that aimed to walk 56 miles within 24 hours. Walking some 95.5 hours in total covering some 212 miles between us; we have raised so far to date £3151.50 and at 15p a meal for the hungry in world we are able to do so for some 21,010 people. This to me is an achievement!

On behalf of the entire Op's Team from Caskade and Richard Hicks from RSC we thank you for your support both prior and during our walk. The phone calls, the text messages and emails showing your support has helped us through this challenge. Thank you, thank you and thank you.

 

Update: Mo made it to Brighton Pier at 10.10 am on Thurdsay 23rd September.

Well done Mo you are a legend!

All of the team did a brilliant job, Scott was singing Kylie in the dead of night which rang across the downs and kept us all going, and even after being carted off in an ambulance to A and E, had recovered sufficiently  by 6am to collect the team from various points and ferry them to safety.

Each and everyone of us suffered varying injuries, Andy wins the soldier of the night  award, having taken a couple of tumbles by mile 30, sprained his ankle and bruised his ribs badly, but still kept going.

Tyson wins the blister of the day award, for his whole little toe!! ouch ouch ouch!

We climbed over 3700 ft in elevation in the first 30 miles and the King of the Mountain award goes to Richard Hicks who managed to walk up a seemingly vertical wall whilst on the phone to a supplier, he didnt even flinch while all around were spluttering about trying to get our breath. I hope we didnt break you too badly Richard!! :)

Many thanks to all of those who supported us including Sameer, Sarah and Mikey, and Simon and Nev for supplying tea, coffee and sustenace at rather odd places and times.

Also last but not least a big thank you to everyone who has  generously donated money to us, it is humbling to think we have raised so much money for such a good cause.

 

On September 22nd  bright and early in the morning, the Caskade Ops team and our star guest walker Richard Hicks, will undertake an adventure requiring much skill, strength and stealth.

The Gurkha Trail from Petersfield in Hampshire to Brighton in Sussex, 90km or 56 miles, in 24 hours.

This will be a major challenge for us all so your donations and

help will be much appreciated to enable the essential work of the World Food Programme to continue all around the world.

 

Go to http://www.wfp.org   to see how all the donations are utilised.

Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page. Please donate what ever you can, every penny counts!