Category: Challenge Series

A taxi ride home after running for almost 17 hours was welcome relief for Victoria McKibben and Jake Crabtree.

The couple had run 50 miles from their Bollington home to Cannock Chase in Staffordshire to raise funds for East Cheshire Hospice.

They had intended to keep going for 24 hours but fatigue took over so they reluctantly completed the last part of their journey by taxi from Stoke, having completed 70 miles.

Victoria, a primary school teacher, said: “We’d set off at 10 am and ran most of the way along canals and country lanes, stopping only for short walking breaks.

Victoria McKibben and Jake Crabtree setting off on their 17-hour run.

“We tried to get all the way back to complete 100 miles but our bodies suddenly started to seize up at 2.30 am when the cold hit us. I could feel my eyes closing as we were running.

“We were chuffed to run 20 miles further than we’ve done before and beat our fundraising target by raising £1,025 for the Hospice.”

They had entered a challenge to run from Meriden in Warwickshire, but that was cancelled because of lockdown so they joined a substitute event in which runners attempted to run for a day from home.

Hospice Marketing Manager Amy Chatwood said:  “What an amazing effort by Victoria and Jake and everyone at the Hospice sends them our heartfelt thanks. They pushed themselves to the limit and we’re humbled and surprised at the lengths fundraisers go to raise money.”

* To sponsor Victoria and Jake visit justgiving.com/fundraising/escapefrommeriden2020.

Accounts Assistant Rob Gorton has almost lost count of his challenges cancelled this year.

He signed up for a dozen fundraising events in aid of East Cheshire Hospice, completing just two before lockdown.

Rob, from Macclesfield, had organised seven 10ks and three trail runs until the pandemic spoiled his plans.

He did run several events as virtual races and has signed up for them all again in 2021.

His most exciting adventure is a trek across the Sahara Desert next November (13-20) in the Hospice’s next overseas trip.

Another unusual challenge is a 39-mile cliff-top coastal walk next June around Guernsey where he lived for three years.

Rob said: “I want to raise as much as I can for the Hospice and am hopeful I can do this in 2021, along with Born Survivor at Capesthorne Hall with other members from RISE, a fitness centre in Macclesfield.

“A number of family and friends have been cared for at the Hospice in the last few years, including a school friend Sam Burt who raised a lot of money for the charity himself.”

Rob, who works for Lennards Chartered Accountants, has helped out behind the bar at Hospice quiz nights at Marlborough School.

Rob added: “I’m really excited by the Sahara trek. I kept seeing the Hospice advertise an information evening and got more tempted, especially as I wanted to tackle something more active.”

* To support Rob’s running challenge visit justgiving.com/fundraising/robert-gorton3. For his Sahara trek visit justgiving.com/fundraising/rob-gorton.

Rob Gorton who is tackling a series of challenges for East Cheshire Hospice.

Sailor Heather Broadbent will have to wait until next August to resume her round-the-world voyage because of Covid-19.

The landscape gardener has already raised a staggering £29,000 for East Cheshire Hospice from her epic adventure.

Heather is taking part in the Clipper 2019-20 Round the World Yacht Race which was suspended in February after reaching the Philippines.

Organisers hoped the race would resume early in 2021 but a resumption has been delayed because of the on-going pandemic.

Heather, from Disley, is determined to carry on with her aim of raising £40,000 – a pound for each mile of the race – to support the Hospice @Home service. Her late husband Adam (45) was a patient at the Hospice.

Heather Broadbent on her round-the-world voyage.

She said: “I’m excited for the re-start and I’ve kept in touch with other members of  our crew, including the skipper.  I met up with some of them in Scotland after coming home.

“The challenge was to try to complete the race in one go and that can’t happen because of the strange circumstances but I still feel very proud and privileged for what I’ve achieved.”

Heather, from Disley, took up mountain biking after getting home. She set sail from the River Thames in September 2019 on board GoToBermuda, one of 11 yachts in the fleet.

As things stand, she will eventually reach the UK finish line early in 2022 -almost two and a half years after she departed on what should have been a single 11-month journey.

Heather was a novice sailor before she entered the race. She said: “The crew have been keeping up with our sailing skills and learning as much as we can through online courses.

“My log book shows I travelled 27,000 miles. I’m staying positive and want to thank everyone who’s kindly donated so far. Hopefully, I’ll still reach my fundraising target and any further help would be fantastic.”

Heather went to South America, South Africa and Australia, where she spent last Christmas, before reaching the Far East before the interruption six months into the race.

The race once it resumes will have three Chinese stopovers before crossing the North Pacific to Seattle, then Panama and Bermuda before the final Atlantic leg to Britain.

* To sponsor Heather visit justgiving.com/fundraising/dreamitnowdoit.

Heather Broadbent on her round-the-world voyage.

Learning how to ride a road bike has inspired teenager Tom Escott-Smith who is determined to help others.

The Fallibroome Academy pupil raised more than £950 for East Cheshire Hospice after cycling 440 miles.

Now the 13-year-old from Prestbury, who has dyspraxia, is showing two youngsters fostered by his mum Lesley how to ride as well.

Tom’s feet have hardly touched the ground since personal trainer Richard Storer gave him the confidence to get into the saddle.

Mum Lesley said: “Tom’s quite proud of his achievements because he only really started riding two years ago. He wanted to do something useful and helpful during lockdown and the racing bike has transformed him and developed his physique.

“He was committed and cycled every day. His school was very supportive and awarded him a certificate in recognition of his community work.”

The challenge equalled the distance to the family home of Lesley’s father at Findochty, near Cullen Bay, Scotland, where the local hotel fully supported and sponsored Tom.

Lesley and Tom had intended to join the Light Up The Night memory walk, organised by the Hospice.

Tom said: “We’ve done the walk each year so when it was called off, I looked for an incentive.

“I wanted to keep fit and active and do some good for charity and the Hospice does a brilliant job. I did some of the challenge from my own lounge during lockdown.”

* To sponsor Tom visit justgiving.com/fundraising/lesley-smith84

Tom Escott-Smith who raised £950 from a cycling challenge. 

Running for 24 minutes is long enough for most but a Bollington couple are attempting to keep going for a staggering 24 hours!

Victoria McKibben and Jake Crabtree are taking part in long-distance challenge from Meriden, the geographical centre of England, in aid of East Cheshire Hospice.

They will set off from the Warwickshire village at 6 pm on Friday, November 13, and see how far they can travel on foot within a 24-hour time limit.

More than 200 runners will leave at staggered start times with GPS tracking devices determining the winners who go the furthest in any direction as the crow flies.

Victoria and Jake, a contracts manager, will navigate roads and footpaths with Manchester Cathedral – around 100 miles away – their target destination.

Victoria, a primary school teacher, said: “We’ve been training hard but the most we’ve run is a 50-mile ultra marathon in the Peak District last year which took 13 hours.

“We want to keep running as much as possible and will only stop for a few minutes’ rest if necessary. Hopefully, we’ll spur each other on to keep going.

“We’ll have a rucksack but don’t want to carry too much and will have enough refreshments to keep us going through the night before we top up on water and food.

“We often donate to the Hospice and would like to raise £1,000 for a wonderful local charity.”

* To sponsor them visit justgiving.com/fundraising/escapefrommeriden2020.

Jake Crabtree and Victoria McKibben and training for their 24-hour running challenge.

East Cheshire Hospice has launched an interactive tool on their website to help potential fundraisers.

The Challenge Ideas Generator web page suggests ways of getting involved with events to support the Hospice.

The Hospice fundraising team came up with the easy-to-use guide as a response to the phenomenal success of supporter-led initiatives over the last six months.

The donations given as sponsorship for these initiatives have provided a lifeline for the Hospice after it was forced to cancel all official events six months ago because of Covid-19.

Hospice Marketing Manager Amy Chatwood said: “This new interactive Challenge Ideas Generator is basically a summary of just over 100 ideas and events as inspiration for ways of fundraising.

“The challenge generator breaks down into categories, such as how difficult a challenge someone wants to undertake and whether they want to do it on their own, or in a group.

“It could be anything from a bike ride, walk, run, swim, Three Peaks Challenge or even sky diving. The short interactive form is designed to help people help us because we still urgently need ongoing support.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm shown by people who’ve wanted to get involved with the Hospice over the summer.

“The community has responded to the challenge and we’ve been so grateful for that support. Thankfully, it seems people are still up for the challenge and our new web page is designed to assist them.”

* Visit eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/ideas for more details.

Rachel Gledhill had to borrow a bike and buy running shoes for her first triathlon.

She did at least own a wetsuit for the one-mile swim across Pickmere Lake which started her endurance challenge.

Heavy rain meant there was no way of drying off for a 40k bike ride to Chelford before a 10k run uphill to East Cheshire Hospice.

There she was met by nurses who toasted her success after four-and-a-half hour journey in bad conditions.

Heavy rain could not deter Rachel from completing her triathlon.

Rachel’s exploits raised £3,100 for the charity in memory of her husband Tom’s grandad Roy Lee, from Chelford.

Roy (78) died in the Hospice four years ago and the family never forgot the care he received.

Rachel said: “Tom’s grandad took me under  his wing and I always said I’d do something to pay the Hospice back, especially as it needs thousands of pounds each day to stay open.

“The care was unbelievable and Hospice made him so comfortable. He was so happy there in his final days.”

Rachel with her husband Tom’s grandad Roy Lee.

Rachel, who works for property developers DeTrafford, was joined by friends and family en route to keep her spirits up.

Sister-in-law  Leanne Tully and her daughter Isabelle (8) ran the last mile with her from Broken Cross.

Rachel said: “A triathlon is not my thing at all and I had to borrow a bike and buy proper running shoes. I started exercising during lockdown and really enjoyed it and that inspired me.

“Two triathlons I’d entered were cancelled so I took matters into my own hands and created my own route. Unfortunately, it was one of the wettest days on record so there was no chance of getting dry after the swim section.

“Five supporters joined me on the bike ride and three on the run and I’m overwhelmed by everyone’s support and generosity and want to thank them for donating.”

* To support Rachel visit justgiving.com/fundraising/rachelsfirsttri.

Rachel with Miley Morris (left) and Isabelle Tully.