WALK ON BY: The Hampshire Chamber of Commerce team after successfully completing The Plod, an arduous 40-mile yomp across the South Downs in aid of Action Medical Research, the charity dedicated to improving the health of babies and children. From left are Mark Baulch, David Kemshall and Richard Hall
A footsore team from Hampshire Chamber of Commerce has conquered an arduous 40-mile midnight hike for charity.
The team of walkers completed the stamina-sapping The Plod across the South Downs Way in 17 hours in aid of the children’s charity Action Medical Research.
Beginning at midnight at Devil’s Dyke, just north of Brighton, the lengthy route followed the course of the South Downs Way across Sussex to the finish line at Beachy Head, Eastbourne.
Chamber Business Development Manager Mark Baulch, Accountant Eddie Bell, Programme Manager Richard Hall and Membership Manager David Kemshall smashed their fund-raising target of £1,500 to collect more than £2,000 for the good cause.
In doing so they were estimated to have taken 130,000 steps, burnt 8,000 calories and climbed a total of 4,900 feet.
And they did it despite a delay after sadly losing Eddie to illness at the 30-mile mark and then having to carry their own supplies.
Mark, who organised the team, said: “At the end we all felt euphoric at completing this exhausting challenge. We still felt in good shape physically despite difficult terrain at times.
“It was a hard slog and mentally tough, especially the last five miles over the Seven Sisters cliffs, but we were determined to finish to give this excellent charity a boost.
“We were delayed by two-and-a-half hours and lost our support driver Tony McKenzie to care for Eddie – who had done so well to take part when not feeling 100 per cent – when she had to drop out, but we still managed to beat the 18-hour cut-off time for the event.”
The team, sponsored by TM Clothing, Chamber business members and individuals, put in 400 miles during training during spring and early summer.
And that paid off because after finishing the event at 5pm, two of the team were back at their desks the following day.
Mark added: “My favourite moment was when we were above Lewes at 4am and saw the sunrise. You just can’t beat things like that.”
READY TO GO: The Hampshire Chamber of Commerce team before starting The Plod, an arduous 40-mile yomp across the South Downs in aid of Action Medical Research, the charity dedicated to improving the health of babies and children. From left are David Kemshall, support driver Tony McKenzie, Eddie Bell, Mark Baulch, and Richard Hall
Chamber Chief Executive Stewart Dunn said: “Congratulations to the team on an outstanding achievement in completing the course and raising an exceptional amount of money for the charity.”
Alice Lisher, Community Fundraiser for Action Medical Research, said: “More than 200 people took part in our epic overnight endurance challenge raising £48,000 to help save and change the lives of sick and disabled babies and children.”
The charity – currently supporting research into meningitis, Down’s Syndrome, epilepsy and premature birth – has been funding medical research and breakthroughs since 1952, including at hospitals in Hampshire.
You can continue to sponsor The Plod team for six weeks – please go to www.action.org.uk/sponsor/hampshirechamber
Notes to editors
Hampshire Chamber of Commerce is the independent voice of local business across the county and one of the largest regional business networks in the UK. It brings together the combined influence, strength and expertise of Hampshire’s three former major chambers of commerce. It works with over 2,000 individual firms spanning all sectors and sizes of business. For more information, visit www.hampshirechamber.co.uk or follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/hantschamber.
HCC is affiliated to The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), a powerful network of 52 accredited Chambers of Commerce across the UK, representing thousands of businesses of all sizes and within all sectors. For more information visit www.britishchambers.org.uk
Media enquiries to Cliff Moore, Deep South Media, on 01202 534487 or cliff.moore@deepsouthmedia.co.uk.
