Hey thanks for following the link I've probably badgered you with ;)

In early March this year I took part in the Bogle Stroll 2012, a 55 mile, 24 hour walk around Manchester in aid of Crohn's and Colitis UK, a great charity that has helped me personally. I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2009 and they provide a lot of information and support for people with an IBD, about 250,000 people in the UK have one. They also invest in IBD research. The Bogle stroll is the oldest sponsored event in the North West and is tougher than it sounds, not everyone finishes but hopefully our team will! 

How we got on

The 4 of us set off at a good pace with high spirits, despite the majority of Manchester going to bed! We got round the south loop (29miles) in about 10-11 hours, "highlights" include: finding the Baby Factory - "so that's where they come from", George eating Mrs Crimbles macaroons with the hilarious slogan "let's bake love" (that kept me well amused), walking (quickly) passed a car retailers with the eeriest sounds coming from it, and the most surreal 5am pie of our lives.

Unfortunately after completing the south loop Stu's feet were in now shape to continue, he'd limped his last few miles and was in too much pain. So 4 became 3, and with the sun now up (very surreal) we began the north loop with a new enthusiasm.

This didn't last that long as the longest 5 mile Oldham road is the most soul destroying thing I am yet to walk on. Plus, rain. Anyway we soldiered on, and recieved cereal at the next check point, making George very happy.

We cracked on with the next 7mile stretch, but it didn't look great for me and Alec - his knee had been giving him grief and I felt feverish. George was definitely more energetic and very determined to finish (he'd attempted this last year), so we told him to go ahead, worried that he might run out of time if he continued at our pace, and Alec and I agreed to make it to the next checkpoint and finish there, feeling it'd be stupid to make ourselves ill.

Alec and I, knowing it'd be over soon, really quite enjoyed our last 4miles. We got to the checkpoint in Bury and sat in the sunshine trying to eat sandwiches, really chuffed with the 41 miles we'd walked! Still are.

George was the real hero of the day though, as he kept hobbling on and completed the whole 55 miles! So proud of him :) and if that wasn't enough he walked to Withington for a curry the next day, mad!

So that's our story! An extra special thank you to Abby for picking us up and driving us home afterwards, Louise & Emily for helping me when I got home and Danielle for bringing me food the next day and RAG for putting the event on.

This was for a charity that really means a lot to me, so please give whatever you can spare, thanks again!