Cousins late on parade but finish gruelling challenge
Two cousins have finished a charity trek despite being dogged by heat stroke and lack of sleep during the epic feat.
Kirsty Grimes, 26 and Natalie Fisher, 27 took part in Trailwalker, a gruelling endurance test overseen by the Gurkhas.
Not only does it involve walking 100km – the distance of two-and-half marathons on rough terrain – the climbs are the equivalent of Ben Nevis and Snowdon combined.
The South Downs challenge must be completed within 30 hours – non-stop.
The women were joined by friend, Steph Roberts, 28 and started training on Boxing Day.
After weeks of practise they set off on Trailwalker late last month.
In blistering heat ,they started from Petersfield in Hampshire heading to the finishing point at Brighton Racecourse.
But they were dogged by injuries, sleep deprivation, heat stroke and vomiting attacks.
As the 30-hour deadline came and with four more of the 12 checkpoints ahead they were advised to give up by the Gurkhas.
Kirsty, a Medway Council communications manager, Natalie and Steph who both live in Maidstone, made the brave decision to carry on.
And four hours later ‘Team Snailwalker’ as they were dubbed reached the finish line to a rapturous applause from Gurkhas, Oxfam volunteers, friends and family.
Kirsty, from Hempstead, said: “Event organisers could have just left us to it at that point, as we were no longer officially part of Trailwalker. But to our delight they called us regularly to check we were okay, Gurkhas continued to watch over us and we had the most amazing reception at the finish line, despite missing the 30-hour deadline catastrophically.”
They said thoughts of their charities kept them going – Cancer Research UK and Cardiac Risk in the Young.
One of those on their minds was their close friend Tom Clarke, known as Clarkey. The 29-year-old from Maidstone, passed away after a long battle with cancer.
The friends have reached their target of £6,000 and donations are still coming in.
To donate, visit virginmoneygiving.com and search ‘Kirsty Grimes’.