Jo's First Light Challenge — 200+ Miles for Neurokinex

On 3rd September I'm setting off from Bristol, walking to Hemel Hempstead, then on to Gatwick. Solo, no support crew — just me and whatever the weather has planned.

Small confession: when I agreed to this, I was told (by myself) it was "about 168 miles." Then someone actually plotted the route (ok, me again). It's over 200. Nobody warned me that roads insist on going around things rather than through them. Too late now.

So: 9 days, back to back, no rest days built in. I've trained for months, which I'm told helps, though I suspect nothing really prepares you for day 6 of anything.

The reason I'm doing it anyway: I work at Neurokinex, so I don't have to take anyone's word for what this money does — I see it. Our Step Up Scheme gives people newly living with a spinal cord injury six free hours of specialist rehab, exactly when they need it most.

This year's Step Up Challenge is about everyone taking part together — clients, families, colleagues. I didn't fancy organising it from a safe distance, so I'm starting a few days early and, through what I can only assume was an error in judgement, walking further than everyone else.

My target: £5,000 — enough for 10 Step Up awards. Ten people, ten real chances at rehab that changes what comes next.

Anything you can spare gets me one step closer to Gatwick, and possibly one step closer to speaking to my feet again.

Jo