Gruelling night walk could be Katie’s final charity challenge
DEDICATED fundraiser Katie Drewery has turned pounding the pavements into amassing thousands of pounds after acquiring an enthusiasm for extreme challenges.
The 31-year-old utility firm worker from Hinckley has helped raise around £16,000 for good causes since embarking on her first endurance event in 2011.
Starting off relatively relaxed with the Hinckley half marathon, Katie soon got stuck into the big stuff, tackling the National Three Peaks Challenge, Hadrians Wall and The Ridgewalk and conquering the 100km treks along the Grand Union Canal and from London to Cambridge, all along with various team members.
Katie said: “It all started when I began running with my brother.
“And although I tried every excuse not to go running within a month or so I had decided to sign up for the Hinckley half marathon.
“You have to get sponsorship to do it and so I thought I’d raise money for Loros - the rest is history.
“I enjoy the challenges and if I am going to do them I might as well make sure someone benefits.”
Several of the charities supported have been chosen because of poignant personal experiences.
In 2015 the Grand Union Canal venture was for Headway in memory of friend Lisa Boswell who died from a brain haemorrhage while on holiday in Florida.
This year’s 100km walk from Bath to Cheltenham, completed by Katie and friends Karen Tamplin, Dave Lawrie, Eula Lawrie and Kelv Gunn, was in aid of Loros, in remembrance of Hayley Smith.
Hayley Smith, a friend of the group, died from cancer in October last year aged just 33.
Katie said: “During the last two weeks of her life Hayley received the best possible care at Loros. All of the staff did an amazing job with Hayley and her family right up until the very end.”
The team had planned to finish the Cotswolds walk within 24 hours, however, the punishing terrain proved tougher than expected and they came in at a still very respectable 27 hours.
For Katie the Cotswolds might just be her swan song.
She said: “It was by far the hardest challenge I have done, although strangely I seem to have recovered the quickest.
“We walked through the night which I guess was a bonus because you couldn’t see how steep the hills were. But I think this has been my last one.
“I had a back operation in October and might need another in August. These challenges are extreme and very stressful.
“They take more than six months of your life because you’ve got to train and then you are spending time fundraising, so it all mounts up.
“Even if it is (the last) I know I can look back and be proud of what I have done and even more proud of everyone else who has joined me or supported me.
“The response I have had has always been overwhelming.”
anyone still wants to contribute to the fundraising for Loros visit www.justgiving. com/fundraising/Kelvin-Gunn