Emily and Paula have joined the NHS1000 miles Challenge. Each of us has committed to walking, running or cycling a total distance of 1000 miles during 2023, to raise funds for the NHS and celebrate the NHS’s 75th birthday. All donations will go to the Central Pathology Fund of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT).

By mid-September we have both reached 1000 miles already! That’s why we want to take the challenge further. Now, our combined goal is to reach 2500 miles this year.

Will you support us to reach our goal? More importantly, will you support the Central Pathology Fund of HHFT? Last year, our Pathology Department performed more than 8 million tests. A high proportion of diagnoses in HHFT hospitals is based on the results of these tests. The NHS is underfunded and going through a difficult period of crisis. We have accepted the NHS1000miles challenge because we want to make sure that our Pathology Department has enough funds to keep providing the best possible care for HHFT patients.

By walking, running or cycling to work and many other places we are:

• keeping ourselves fit and healthy, which reduces pressure on the NHS, even if it is only very slightly;

• reducing our carbon footprint, which contributes to better health for everyone;

• not contributing to road congestion, thus helping to reduce other people’s carbon footprint.

All donations, big and small, will help and will be truly appreciated.

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Update

6th November 2023

We have smashed it!! Our combined mileage has reached 2600! We are planning to share our monthly mileage here soon.

Now we have to focus on our fundraising goal. Can you help us to hit our target?

Thanks to everyone who has donated so far!!

Emily's update

7th November 2023

One of my favourite things about England is how easy it is to walk long distances in the countryside. This October half-term, I spent three days walking with my family along the Ridgeway from East Ilsley to Princes Risborough. We walked a total of 35 miles during the course of the trip, staying overnight at pubs along the way. The landscape and scenery varied widely - we started with panoramic views across the landscape, followed by several miles walking along the Thames, then trekking through deep forest and finishing by walking along more high ridges where we could see for many miles in either direction. There was a lot of wildlife, mostly birds: skylarks, red kites, kestrels, and pheasants. A highlight came for me on the second day: I saw a stoat!

At our pub stop on the second night, the landlady asked us where we were headed the next day. We said we planned to walk a little over ten miles to Princes Risborough and expected to take several hours to do it. She said with a laugh that she could drive us there in ten minutes! But that would take all the fun out of it. Of course a hike isn’t really about getting where you need to go — it’s about what you experience on the journey.

Update: Mileage - Monthly breakdown

12th Nov 2023

We're not stopping here. We'll keep counting our miles until the end of the year.

Update

29th November 2023

So far:

Emily: 1506.28 miles

Paula: 1310.21 miles

Total: 2816.49 miles

3000 miles by the end of the year seems within our reach. And we are at 87% of our fundraising target thanks to all our generous donors.

Update

3rd January 2024

2023 and the NHS1000 miles challenge have come to an end and our 3000 miles are here!! By the end of 2023:

Emily: 1607.63 miles

Paula: 1441.76 miles

Total: 3049.39 miles

This is roughly the distance in a straight line from our Basingstoke Hospital to Astana (Kazakhstan), Mecca (Saudi Arabia), Khartoum (Sudan), or Quebec (Canada).

Our initial target was 2000 miles (1000 miles each). We have done 52% more than this, quite an achievement!

So far we have raised £468.35 for the Pathology charitable fund at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. With £32 more we would reach our £500 fundraising target. Any last minute donation would be hugely appreciated.

If you have already donated, thank you so much for helping us to meet the NHS1000 miles challenge!!!