Striding out on 50-mile challenge

But could you trek all the way from Endcliffe Park to Bakewell, in the name of charity?

Sheffielders can now test their grit, with the ultimate walking ordeal.

The ‘Challenge4Charity’ event will see 100 participants attempt to complete a 50 mile circular route - from Endcliffe Park, to Bakewell, and back - within a 24 hour window, for the very first time on April 21.

“It’s no small feat,” said Diana Maynard, who is UK events manager for Action4Diabetics, which has teamed up with local organisation Will4Adventure.com to organise the charity event.

“This is a pre-defined route through the Peak District so, though we know the route isn’t going to be too technical, there will certainly be hills to walk up and down. It’s set to follow footpaths, bridleways and byways, and some roads.

“Before the event, all walkers will be given a set of written instructions to help them find their way. In addition, marshals will be located along the route, so the route should be easy to navigate and pleasant to follow.

“Some people may finish the whole thing, but all we’re asking is that people complete as much of it as they can. Once they’ve had enough, they’ll be able to contact our volunteers who will go and collect them wherever they’ve made it to.”

All proceeds from the event will go to UK charity Action4Diabetics, which aims to provide medication and education to young people with Type 1 Diabetes across South-East Asia, as well as support to their families.

Diana said: “Around 400 million people in the world currently live with diabetes, and more than half of these live in Asia. Many of these people don’t even know why they’re ill.

“Action4Diabetics has a simple aim: to provide life-giving medical care and essential development support for young people with Type 1 Diabetes in emerging countries in Asia. Without this, many of these children literally just die.

“We organise active challenges all over the world, focusing on encouraging people with diabetes, or who might be at risk of diabetes, and non-diabetics to get active, not to be afraid of sport, and to adopt physical activity as part of their daily routine. b

“Our motto for the Challenge4Charity is ‘One Day - One Child - One Life - One Year.’ That’s because if each participant raises the £350 in sponsorship we encourage, added to their entry fee, then they will raise enough in that one day to save one child’s life for an entire year on the charity’s insulin program. It’s quite amazing.”

And Diana, who is herself from Sheffield, will also be taking part.

“I’ve had type 1 diabetes for over 35 years and, despite being registered blind as a result of complications since I was in my 20s, I lead an active life climbing mountains and travelling all over the world,” she said.

“I shall also be participating in the event, along with my friend Will Legon, who runs Will4Adventure.”

A spokesman for Will4Adventure, which is hosting the event in conjunction with the charity, added: “This is an insane continuous 50 mile walk - with no opportunities for sleeping, or for separate team members to walk separate stages. It is purely a case of walk as far as your legs will take you!

“With regular marshals and support drivers you have the option to walk as far as you can up to the maximum of 50 miles inside 24 hours.

“To that end, pick up points will be located along the route. After 25 miles, walkers will need to continue in small teams and be supported by vehicle checkpoints at key locations.

“Action4Diabetics makes a real difference, changing lives for the better. It’s a worthy cause and a worthy challenge, so we hope that the people of Sheffield will get on board to help us make this day count.”

The challenge will kick off at 7am on Saturday April 21, finishing at 7am on Sunday April 22. It will take walkers around Redmires Reservoirs, out through Nether Padley, Grindleford, the River Derwent, to Bakewell, and back past Chatsworth House, and Ringinglow.

The event will cost £60 per person to enter,

Diana added: “This is a very accessible challenge for any ordinary person, based on the concept that you can always do more than you think you can.

“The route of the walk leads from Sheffield through the Peak District to the small village of Youlgrave, just outside Bakewell. The walk takes in the iconic gritstone edges from Stanage to Baslow before it descends through the green pastures of the Chatsworth Estate.

“Our aim, if this challenge is successful, is to run this exciting event annually, starting with 100 walkers in 2018, with the aim of comprising over 1,000 participants within five years.

“We began promoting the event a couple of month ago and there’s been a lot of interest so far, and already some sign-ups, but we’re imagining plenty more are going to come in throughout the next few weeks, as people look to getting healthy again in the new year.

“We’re also in need of volunteers on the day, so please do get in touch if you’d like to give your time to this very worthy challenge.

Visit www.will4adventure.com/challenge4charity to find our more details. Participants will need to make it to the halfway station inside of 11 hours, and to Calver (37 miles) by midnight in order to continue beyond those points.