Your letters, emails & posts

A stirring crop of correspondence.

When an old school friend contacted me four years ago to ask if I fancied doing the Three Peaks Challenge I nearly laughed my socks off! I had no gear and no idea! Little did I know that a firm and enduring friendship would instantly be formed and the ‘Peaky Pals’ was born – meet Jacqui, Nicola, Sam and me! (Donna), four like-minded ladies all living in close proximity at the foot of the South Downs near Eastbourne. We have endured dodgy gear, blisters, lost toenails, extremes of weather, mud (lots of mud!), ‘moments’ (of which we have all had a few!) and shared laughter (bordering hysteria!), tears, dogs, lunches and, sometimes, too much information (what’s said on a walk stays on a walk, after all). We have impressed and inspired friends and family to pick up the walking baton, learnt to map read (okay, so we still get lost but now have more chance of finding our way back again), met amazing people, heard tales of inspiration and woe, lost inches, gained heart and health, and enjoyed awesome views and scenery. The last four years has seen us take on marathons, mountains, #walk1000miles, badge meets and madder and madder challenges. Walking truly is the gift that keep on giving, it’s Therapy with a capital ‘T’ and we are all confirmed addicts! Bring on the next four years because who knows where it will take us? (Can you detect my enthusiasm yet?).

Donna Gurr, Eastbourne