Cheers, tears and blisters were the order of the day as 130 steely walkers completed a 32-mile trek in Norfolk – in the process raising more than £56,000 for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
The Pier 2 Pier challenge, organised by EACH, took participants from Cromer to Great Yarmouth and the amount raised smashed last year’s total of £40,000.
They set off together at 7am and the first two walkers crossed the line together at 3.10pm. Everyone had safely completed the distance by 7.45pm.
“It was another great, successful and memorable day,” said EACH Senior Events Fundraiser Emma Cook.
“The weather was perfect – mostly cloudy but warm with a cooling sea breeze – and it was nice to have decent conditions, after our soggy Norwich Bubble Rush, in May!
“All the walkers did incredibly well and everyone received a well-earned medal after crossing the line, before enjoying fish and chips together.
“There were cheers, tears and lots of blisters but I hope everyone enjoyed the experience. They should feel extremely proud of themselves.
“Our sincere thanks go to everyone who supported us, as well as those who helped raise £56,000. It’s a staggering amount of money.”
Among those to take part were 31 people sporting orange capes and glitter and representing the ‘Just George’ team.
Between them, they raised more than £26,000 and were showing their support as a thank you for the care four-year-old George Radcliffe received at Milton – EACH’s Cambridgeshire base – after being diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma (a soft tissue tumour) in May 2022.
He was referred to EACH the following Spring and died at the hospice last October.
Parents David and Lisa have subsequently received bereavement support and David was among those to take on the challenge, while Lisa and two close friends gave up their time as volunteers, handing out medals at the finish.
Another of the participants was Angela Gray, taking on the challenge in memory of daughter Sophie, who was born by emergency c-section, after 37 weeks, in August 2018. Sadly, she died after just two days.
Angela and husband Chris had to make the heart-wrenching decision to withdraw treatment and it was at that point they were referred to EACH.
“The support we received turned out to be a lifesaver,” said Angela.
“People don’t realise how much EACH does. They think of end of life, but not all the other things like bereavement and wellbeing support.
“That’s part of the reason I took on this challenge – to raise funds but also, hopefully, some awareness, too.
“It became a personal challenge and I thought this was the year to give something back, especially as I turned 40 in April.”
Also completing the distance was Paul Roe, whose son, Freddie, died from a rare form of cancer in 2023.
Paul described the care he and his family received at The Treehouse, in Ipswich, as “incredible and amazing”.
“Feeling lost, distraught, scared and completely broken, we didn’t know what to expect but the team picked us up and became a rock,” he said.
“The Treehouse is a place we’ll always remember for the teddy bears’ picnic, painting sessions, music time, cakes galore, late-night chats and constantly making Freddie smile.”
Other teams represented Center Parcs, at Elveden Forest, in addition to smaller groups from the companies Milestone and Broadland Consultants.
Pictures: Glenn David Photography
