FOUR women from Ipswich today told of their pride after completing an incredible 50-mile sponsored walk to raise almost �2,000 for children's hospices.
FOUR women from Ipswich today told of their pride after completing an incredible 50-mile sponsored walk to raise almost �2,000 for children's hospices.
Karen Juby, Victoria Moyes, Lucy Parker and Carly Free almost covered the length of two marathons during the gruelling challenge, which took them more than 17 hours to complete.
The group started and finished in Holbrook and followed a route which took them along the Shotley Peninsula and through Flatford Mill, Dedham, Langham, East Bergholt and Felixstowe Dock.
The walk raised almost �2,000 for East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) and the woman were four of only six people who completed the trek out of an original group of 18.
Mrs Juby, 29, said: “Getting to the halfway point of 25 miles was an achievement in itself and many of the team had reached their limit and retired at this point.
“Reaching 30 miles as the sun was setting was our toughest moment physically and emotionally, but the four of us shared plasters and shoulders to cry on, and somehow managed to carry on.
“By the 45-mile point we were in pitch black with nothing but our head torches showing the way, and there were many scary encounters with the local wildlife, including bulls and grass snakes.
“There were only six of us left at this point, but the end was in sight and sheer determination carried us through the last five miles.”
The walkers had set off at 8am and got back to Holbrook at 1.30am the next day.
Mrs Parker, 25, said: “We just had to work towards the next checkpoint. When I thought about how many miles we had to go altogether, I would just cry!”
Miss Free, 25, had to have her blisters treated in hospital - but was given a bravery award for bearing the pain of having them popped.
And Mrs Moyes, 28, said: “It was probably the hardest thing we have ever done but the sense of achievement we feel now and knowing we have raised such a great amount for EACH has made it all worthwhile.”
Have you taken on an extraordinary challenge? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
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