Tenacious trekkers joined forces and raised more than £33,500 for charity after completing an energy-sapping walk along the Suffolk coast.
The Pier 2 Pier event, from Lowestoft to Southwold, was organised by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) and took place on Saturday.
It took participants on a 16-mile walk and 140 people signed up, with many donning purple t-shirts to show their support for EACH.
The charity already hosts an established pier walk in Norfolk, but this was only the second it had arranged in Suffolk.
Everyone left at 8am and the first person arrived in Southwold just after 11.50am.
“It was another great day and everyone completed the walk, for which they should be extremely proud,” said EACH Events Fundraiser Emma Cook.
“It was misty in the morning but the sun tried to shine and, of course, came out as we were packing up!
“Nevertheless, just like last year, it was another very successful and positive day.
“Given that this was only our second year, we were happy with the sign-up numbers and, of course, the total raised.
“It’s an incredible amount and will make such a difference to our vital work.
“Thanks go to everyone who took part, the businesses that supported us and all the amazing volunteers. It wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
Among those to take part were members of two Ipswich families with a special reason to support EACH.
Grandparents Robert and Denise Crozier completed the challenge as their granddaughter, Ada, receives care at The Treehouse.
Robert said: “What a day!
“The pair of us and three dear friends, who decided to join us on the walk, left home at 5.30am so we were in Southwold to catch the bus to Lowestoft.
“The weather was foggy and cold to start with, but the walk was really enjoyable.
“It took us through some wonderful countryside, was well-organised and, at each checkpoint, we were met by enthusiastic people and plenty of rations.
“We all had a wonderful surprise when we finished. Ada, mum Helen, brother Reggie and family and friends were there to cheer us on.”
Denise added: “Thanks to our training programme, we didn’t get blisters and were still able to move the next day!
“We’ve always been made very welcome when we visit The Treehouse.
“On a couple of occasions, we’ve taken the children to a music session on our own.
“The staff have been so helpful and made sure we had a really great time. It’s our way of saying thank you for looking after our granddaughter.”
Sam Morley also took part as her son, Euan, receives care at The Treehouse.
Sister Emily Wright and friends Jane Deane and Selina Mitchell were also part of Team Euan.
The event went international as one member of another family, who was unable to attend on the day, completed 16 miles in Canada as part of Team Evie.
There were also corporate teams from Cambridge Electrical Services & Cambridge EV Points, VMhosts, Roadtechs Group, Center Parcs (Elveden Forest) and APPS Canopies.
The rest of this year’s mass-participation fundraising events are now live on the EACH website.
These include the hugely popular Norwich Bubble Rush, at the Norfolk Showground, on 26th May.
The 32-mile Norfolk Pier 2 Pier, from Cromer to Great Yarmouth, is scheduled for 22nd June, while the big two dates in July are the Newmarket Bubble Rush, on the 7th, and The Piglet Junior Hog – a family-friendly, muddy obstacle course – near Woodbridge on the 14th.
The Lego Walk, which is sure to prove popular, is taking place at EACH’s Milton base, near Cambridge, on 29th September.
EACH’s fundraising events are a hugely important way of raising funds.
Last year’s Norwich Bubble Rush, for instance, raised in excess of £80,000 – more than any other Bubble Rush across the country in 2023 – and was enjoyed by more than 2,500 people.
Another recent highlight was the return of EACH’s Norwich Abseil, in March.
Back for the first time in three years, 70 people took part – a sell-out – and raised more than £18,200.
