Walk to d ‘feet* mnd

 

This is not a Stroll in the park for the Wythenshawe Strollers 53 miles cross country from Penrith to Ravenglass 20 June 2014

We are a group of 15 friends from Wythenshawe who have been mates for over 30 years. We played football together, holidayed together and socialised in and around Wythenshawe all our lives. We have always been there for each other down the years and supported one another through thick and thin.

When one of our group was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease our first reactions were ‘What's Motor Neurone Disease?’ ‘Is there a cure?’ ‘How is it treated?’ ‘Is that what Professor Steven Hawkins has? It was obvious that most of us knew nothing about the disease, some of us had never even heard of it!

We now know that MND is a terminal muscle wasting disease and the most common form of MND known as ALS gives you a life expectancy of 2-5 years. It affects every major muscle in the body leaving you unable to walk, talk and eventually unable to breath. There is no cure and can affect any adult at any age! On average it kills 5 people a day in the UK alone and thousands worldwide. However, our mate has been told that he has a very rare form known as Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS) which thankfully has a much longer life expectancy. However, there is no guarantee that it would not progress to the more aggressive form known as ALS but we are optamistic and so far results have shown that it is progressing slowly.

You may have heard of the ex Altrincham Footballer Mark Maddox who was diagnosed with MND in 2010 and is attempting his third marathon despite the fact he can no longer lift his arms and his legs are getting weaker everyday - such an inspiration to us all.

This is a devastating disease so in support of our mate and others such as Mark who are living with MND we are supporting the MND Association in a bid to find a cure and raise awareness.

The Wythenshawe Strollers are therefore taking part in the Walk to d ‘feet* mnd and have organised a 4 day walk of 53 miles cross country from Penrith to Ravenglass starting out on 20th June 2014. We will be carrying camping equipment with us and the campsites are booked. This is not a "Stroll in the park" so the Strollers are undergoing some intensive training led by team leaders Kevin Thurston and Chris Taylor and Chief Scout Jimmy Ruane is putting everyone through their paces. We will be guided by our Map Reader Dennis Graham and his compass so fingers crossed we don’t get lost or walk round in circles.

We would be delighted if you would support the Strollers to help raise funds for the MND Association.

List of walkers - Pat Allen, Jimmy Eastdown, Chris Spencer, Colin Sharp, Paul Thurston, Sean Brennan, Mike Canny, Les Graham, Jimmy Ruane, Jamie Ruane, Dennis Graham, Chris Taylor, Kevin Thurston, Paul Smith, Paul Flynn and not forgetting Olli the dog.

Thank you.

Day 1

Day one all done and dusted everyone ok no injuries no one lost. 

All up and about at 6:30 this morning except for Jimmy who seems to think everyone should be up with him a 3:30!!! 

We sent off on time at 8 am all with smiles and the sun on our backs. Have to say a big thank  you to the lady camping next to us who donated to our walk. (Picture of her car attached) also to the camp site Lowther Holiday Park who let us camp for free. The walk is tiring but the views of Askham village, Barton Fell and the scenic views looking over Ullswater made it worth the effort. 

We covered around 16km today reached a peak of 671m (Loadpot Hill). All the lads did really well, we reach our camp site for the night at around 3:30pm. 

We all now pitched up and off for some food and refreshment which we will need for tomorrow that looks like being a longer day if not a tadge  harder.

Day 2

 Saturday 21st day started with everyone up and ready to go at 8am. It was not the fact everyone wanted to tackle the Kirkstone Pass and the down hill task of the stretch known as the Stuggle into Ambleside it was more to do with the midges who had bitten everyone leaving some of us looking like we had chicken pox. 

Of we set leaving Westside Farm at 8:30am. Special thanks to Westside Farm for donating half our camping fee to our charity and letting us camp for free. 

Kirkstone pass was soon in our view looking like a picture post card but at the same time smirking at us know what we had coming. 

We all managed to get to the summit but not without a few of the gang hurting from one or two blisters. Is Jimmy R really a doctor????

With the Kirkstone pass completed it was onto the struggle or to be more accurate down to the Struggle. If going up hill gave you blisters on your heals then the Struggle gets them on your toes. Who said going down hill is easier!!! 

We stopped in Ambleside for a short break before moving on to the last stretch to our camp site for the night just a short 8 mile away. 

Having reached the camp site at 6:30pm it was time for a shower and a bite to eat to ready ourselves for the awry nose Pass and the Hardknott Pass. 

It was a hard days walk done by one and all, 18 miles completed well done boys. 

Day 3 

Today was the big walking attack on Wrynose and the Hardknott Pass. Before that thou there was the first little task of getting us out of our Camp in Great Langdale and over the Sidegate path before dropping down onto the Wrynose Pass.

Today we were a little late leaving as there were one or two blisters that needed attention. Blisters sorted off we set a nice little 230m climb before we faced the passes. 

Both passes before us, off we marched well as fast as we could go anyway. Our first summit reach all of us now breathing and sweating a little more than at the bottom. Why some people thought that was the walk after reaching that summit I do not know more wishful thinking I think. A nice steady walk along the Wrynose pass before we faced the famous Hardknott pass. Everyone one was slightly worried about wether this was going to hurt. No one should have any worries as everyone managed the pass with out any major issues reaching the top and having the team photo to show the grand kids. 

We had one major issue today which resulted in the walkers rescuing the safety vehicle when he found himself hanging off the edge of the road, not sure that was the way it is supposed to work. We soon had Smithy back on the road all be it a bit embarrassed. 

Both passes completed everyone now in the final camp for the night the talk of the night will be not the walk and how hard it was but SMITHY and PAUL his co drive

Final day of our walk day 4. 

Today we only had a short walk of 10 or so miles into Ravensglass. The walk today has no hills, no passes, and no endless tracks to walk. 

The steady walk into Ravenglass gave us time to reflect on what we have done and learnt over the last few days. 

We have learnt that:

 The older lads of Pat and Cockney Jim can still do it even touching 65 years young.

Mike can walk the Lakes carrying his sandwich's in a shopping bag, and Penrith is not in Wales. 

Jimmy should not really try and carry the contents of his trailer in a rucksack. 

Jamie knows his Duke of Edinburgh trip will now be easier. 

Kevin knows all the repeated answering of the same questions was worth it. 

Paul knows the treadmill in the conservatory was a good idea. 

Sean know that walking is better than fishing all day and catching nowt.

Colin knows how to make us laugh keep the jokes coming Col. 

Spenner knows the pain of Skidal was worth the wake up call. 

Chris well he knows it all, he is the groups walking Encyclopedia. He also knows his snoring is loud enough to keep us all awake.

Les well he is now an expert on blisters and he knows new  boots can bite you.

As for me well I learnt when you get 12 mates together walking from Penrith to Ravenglass it is just a giggl.

One thing we did not need to learn is that we are all mates and we are doing it for a mate

Well done everyone and thank you to all those that have donated to us.