Could you walk, run or wheel 271 miles in under 1 year and 38 hours?
We're announcing the launch of The Trafalgar Way End-to-End Virtual Challenge, your chance to follow in the wheeltracks of history.
If you are someone who likes to walk or run for fitness or pleasure, but sometimes needs motivation or something to aim for, then we've got just the thing! Here is your opportunity to achieve something quite different over the course of a year and earn your very own medal - and a tee-shirt to prove you did it! And you'll be helping to support our little corner of naval heritage at the same time.
This challenge is a unique experience where each participant logs their mileage-based activity and sees their progress along an innovative interactive map—from anywhere in the world! Whether you walk, run or use a wheelchair, you can cover the distance in any number of stages you wish, and be rewarded for your achievement.
You can start the year's endurance challenge any time after midday on November 4th 2021, but you'll need to register first. Lt Lapenotiere covered the distance in under 38 hours. You'll have up to one year and 38 hours to complete your 271 miles, as the challenge concludes on November 6th 2022.
There's more information about the challenge and how to register on the End to End website, here: https://www.endtoend.run/trafalgar-way/
Entry costs just £29.99. One third of this amount is donated jointly to The 1805 Club for The Trafalgar Way, and to Sea Cadets to help them with their fantastic youth activities.
As well as the facility to track your endeavours, you'll receive a medal and a t-shirt upon completion. In addition, as you progress, you will receive electronic postcards from the places you 'virtually' visit, the coach-change locations between Falmouth and London. There will be spot prizes, a puzzle to attempt, and messages of encouragement from Sea Cadets and members of the Naval community.
Fundraising as you go
This is a personal challenge for you to enjoy, and there is absolutely no obligation to raise funds for charity. However, if you would like to use this opportunity to fundraise for a cause you cherish, then please feel free to do so. Of course, we would really love it if you would consider fundraising for The 1805 Club (a charity registered in England and Wales, No. 1071871) so we can continue promoting naval history and heritage for the benefit of future generations. It's The 1805 Club who put all the effort into the inauguration and stewardship of The Trafalgar Way so that another little piece of British and Naval history could be retold for years to come.
You can sign up to raise funds for The 1805 Club via our official People's Fundraising site, please visit https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/campaign/thetrafalgarway-end-to-end
You will need to
- create a personal account
- click on "Create a fundraising page supporting The Trafalgar Way End to End Virtual Running, Walking & Wheeling Challenge".
- create your fundraiser, explaining what you intend to achieve and why you are doing it
- share this page to social media and via email to friends and family to help boost your fundraising effort!
Donations made via your page will be donated straight to The 1805 Club, with the opportunity to secure Gift Aid, too. Every little bit helps, and your support will be acknowledged with our very grateful thanks!
Kathy's Commitment to the Challenge!
Lapenotiere had the advantage of a comfy carriage and four horses to pull him along, changing them for fresh ones every 10 to 15 miles at 'posting inns' on his way. I'll just have my own two legs!
Kathy Brown, the Director of The Trafalgar Way, tells us her plans for the challenge ahead.
The original journey took under 38 hours. I'll be covering the distance of The Trafalgar Way 'virtually' over the course of the year, in multiple stages, in many different locations, running near to my home in Salisbury, or elsewhere around the UK.
To make it even more fun, my plan is to match each of the stages covered by Lapenotiere between coaching inns within a single week, and to do it in the correct order. The shortest week's running is 7 miles (Staines to Hounslow stage), the longest is 18.625 miles (Launceston to Okehampton stage). The very first week I'll cover at least 12.375 miles (Falmouth to Truro).
That's 23 stages/weeks of running (including a virtual break at Jamaica Inn, which wasn't an official coach change), ranging from 7 miles to 18.625 - roughly equivalent to one stage every two weeks of the year!
Do you think I can do it? Will you sponsor me and my legs, via People's Fundraising? It will probably take me the full year to get in enough long runs to complete this distance. Every little bit of sponsorship will be incredibly welcome and will motivate me to achieve my goal.
>> Sponsor my challenge here <<
The challenge begins on November 4th 2021 and I will be providing photos and updates to record my progress, including the 'virtual map' of my progress at End to End Run.
Whether you choose to participate, fundraise or sponsor me, your support is wholeheartedly appreciated!
