A million steps later, time for a Vitamin G
Last week saw my mate John and I complete our ‘Trip to Tipp’, something that was in doubt many times along the way with swollen ankles, painful joints and septic burst blisters – but we did it.
You may wonder what we actually achieved by walking for 23 days from London to Liverpool then Dublin to Tipperary along the canals, quiet roads, footpaths and old railway lines in England and Ireland other than the sore bits mentioned above. So here are the numbers that I thought are worth sharing.
Our trek had us walking over a million steps, burning more than 100,000 calories, travelling 968km (one km for every man who dies of prostate cancer in the UK every month) and raising over £26,000 and counting for Prostate Cancer UK. Hopefully we’ll help reduce that stat in years to come.
We also made formal presentations to around 500 people, over 50 people joined us for the odd day and far too many pints of Vitamin G (Guinness) were consumed along the way.
Our arrival at Tipperary was something special as we aptly finished at a local cancer centre where the mayor, local dignitaries and many touched by the disease gave us the warmest welcome. It didn’t matter that we were drinking tea instead of Vitamin G because it made us realise what ordinary folk like us taking on a big challenge for others really means.
Just being there telling our story was enough to show others that things are still possible even when life throws you the biggest curve balls.
Afterwards we spent two days in the beautiful Irish village of Kilconnell where we were royally treated to impromptu music, a trip to my first ever hurling match (a cross between hockey and murder), welcomed in people’s houses for meals and learned about farming. Then there was more incredible fundraising in Brodericks Bar where the owner Tim had raised an incredible amount towards our total.
I hope that you too offer help to anyone you meet who is trying to do their best, like those that helped us. The memories will last a lifetime.