TWO women from Melksham have completed a gruelling 100 kilometre walk, raising almost £2,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support in the process.
Shelley Davis and Claire Younger took part in the London 2 Brighton Moonwalk Challenge in difficult conditions due to wet weather. They started the event with 3,000 other competitors with only 1,4000 finishing the race and the Melksham pair finished 64th and 65th overall. Their time was 21 hours and 31 minutes.
Shelley said, “The walk was much more of a challenge then we expected. The first 25k wasn’t too bad as it was more road walking but the rest crossed country, woods, fields and miles of deep slippery mud. The night part was pretty testing as we had to find our way cross-county in the pitch black and walkers were now few and far between.
“We both really enjoyed the challenge apart from the wind, rain and mud which was the toughest aspect, but in between that, there was plenty of beautiful scenery to see. When we could see the finish line in the distance we both felt really emotional and did have a few tears just through sheer tiredness and happiness that we had actually completed it!
“We are incredibly proud with our results and finishing was amazing. The hours of training really did help and a big thanks to our in-laws for enabling us to train so much and the rest was determination and mind over matter.
“We just want to say thanks again to everyone who supported us, kept us believing we could do this and all the sponsors especially to Justin, Sue and Paul for being there to see us cross the finish line and sharing champagne with us.
“Next year we have planned to do the event for the Wish Upon a Star Appeal and The Race to the Stones event which is also a 100km challenge.”
Shelley and Claire have asked that anyone who kindly sponsored them please forward the money to them as soon as possible. If anyone wishes to sponsor them still, they can do so by visiting their justgiving pages www.justgiving.com/Shelley-Davis6 and www.justgiving.com/claire-younger
