Through blood, sweat and tears, Alyson, Claire, Jana and Rachel completed the famous "K2B" walk on 11th May - albeit in the shorter 20 mile version - through England's most beautiful scenery and in glorious sunshine. Between us, we have raised over £1300 in sponsorship - a fantastic effort.
There were blisters and cramps, tears and trauma, good times and bad. But throughout, there was sunshine, smiles and gritty determination to keep pushing through. We started at Coniston, walking all along the east of lake and turning up into the Dalton hills and finally down into Barrow, surrounded at all times by banana-bearing well-wishers and stunning countryside
We walked in the shadows of our heroic "Bluebird" forebear Donald Campbell, who attempted the world water speed record on Coniston Water back in the early 70s in one of his "Bluebird" fleet. We even passed "The Bluebird Lodge" en route. It felt personal.....
For some of us, this was the most mentally and physically challenging thing we have done, for others we had deeply personal reasons for doing it. But we all prevailed and made it to the end in 8hrs 45 mins.
Our colleague Rebecca Blackstone also took part, but as an individual raising funds for St Johns Hospice. A true champion, Rebecca did the full 40 miles from Keswick to Barrow and raised £80. At the end Rebecca was rather tired and said, "That was a silly idea really, what was I thinking?! I'm a mess!"
