The Proclaimers sang about walking 500 miles and then walking 500 more and that’s what one Kentish man has done…with a video message from the singing twins to start him off!
Most people were nursing sore legs after April’s London Marathon but Steve Nash from Vigo, was packing his bags, saying his farewells and heading to John O’Groats to start a month-long journey to Land’s End by foot and cycle!
The Proclaimers, Scottish twins Charlie and Craig Reed, heard about his mammoth trip and even recorded a special message for him wishing him luck for his 925 miles!
Steve was travelling with purpose – to raise money for Stacey’s Smiles, run by his close friends Warren and Samantha Mowle who set up the charity in their daughter’s name to grant wishes and make special memories to other children diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer.
Stacey from Gravesend, was diagnosed in 2009 aged 4, with Stage 4 of the disease, fighting on for five years until her death in March 2015. The charity was originally set up to raise money for treatment not available in the UK but her parents now run it as a legacy to Stacey, ensuring special memories are created by families across the UK in the same unimaginable position they were in, including:
Special days out
A holiday in the charity’s East Sussex caravan
A photography shoot
A party
A box of smiles – a bespoke box of treats chosen specially for the child
Portraits
An amazing £13,000 was raised from Steve’s London Marathon, the 925-mile trip from John O’Groats to Land’s End and a charity ball, which will make sure many more families can enjoy creating some precious memories together.
The 44-year-old Project Consultant started walking on April 26th and finished on May 26th – 31 days later, passing through Wick, Inverness, Lockerbie, Gretna Green, Carlisle, Preston, Wigan, Shrewsbury, Hereford, Chepstow, Bristol and Taunton.
And it wasn’t just kind-hearted well-wishers donating to his page who helped him out – the business community rallied around too.
His overnight B&B stays were paid for by Crawley-based Armarii, a bathroom fitting company, whilst his 30 T-shirts were sponsored by Blakeney Leigh Surveyors based in Bromley and London.
BNI Networking Kent, of which Steve’s a member with the Victory group in Shoreham, Kent, was also generous, providing cakes for him to take, sports massages along the way, donations to the charity and even riding with him to keep him company. One even linked him in with the former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron in Kendall, who walked four miles with Steve.
BNI members were out in force along the route, meeting him on the road, in golf clubs, hotels and even when he popped in for a networking meeting!
He said: “The generosity of everyone has been amazing, but the business community was something else! I hadn’t met or spoken to most of those who turned out the support me ahead of the trip, but they took me in and supported me along the way which was amazing for my morale!
“The charity is very close to my heart and taking on these challenges helps to raise both money and awareness.
“Thank-you to everyone who has supported me and helped to raise this incredible amount of money and if you’d still like to donate, you can, or of course, contact the charity to offer your support if you’re a business; perhaps make them your charity of the year or hold an event for them.”
Steve has also previously taken on the 2009 London Marathon and a 100-mile walk in 2014.
You can still donate here
Find out more about the charity here:
