Crossing the country for a great cause
In May 2022, Dan raised over £4,000 for us by completing the Coast to Coast Walk. He shares a snapshot of the experience.
I’m 33 years old and live in Derby with my fiancée and our cat. Walking isn’t something I enjoy. But the Coast to Coast Walk was something I wanted to do as a personal challenge, to push outside my comfort zone and show myself what I could do.
I’ve never done any fundraising. I’m quite a private person and I haven’t had the confidence to put myself out there and ask people to sponsor me. But this challenge seemed the perfect combination of personal growth, raising money for the MS Society and increasing awareness of the condition.
A very personal cause
My brother, Matt, was diagnosed 16 years ago and has primary progressive MS. His mobility has decreased over time and he now relies on a mobility scooter for social outings. He has a great attitude and lives his life in the best way possible, whilst working full-time.
It’s agonising seeing him unable to do certain things, although he always tries to find a way. As a family we rally round and do whatever’s needed to support him. He doesn’t like a fuss, though. So we all attempt to continue as normal a life as possible, as he does.
Preparing for the challenge
I have decent fitness and an active job, so I wasn’t too daunted by the walking. But I’d never walked 192 miles in nine days. Or at all in the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales or North York Moors. I rather irresponsibly prepared to tackle all the climbs and descents (and the long days and fatigue) after just one flat training walk of around 20 miles!
Learn more about the Coast to Coast route on the Coast to Coast website
My more extensive preparation came in the form of map reading and kit research. And I spent hours on Google Earth getting to know as much of the route as possible. This was so I could save time during the walk by not needing to check the map.
One day at a time
My days would start with a 5.30am alarm, a quick vlog entry and a weather check. I’d then pack up and try to start walking by 6.30am. I quickly discovered I wasn’t very hungry in the mornings, and the bag of overnight oats was soon discarded to save me 500g. As soon as I had a signal, I’d let the family know I was okay.
A good thing about the Coast to Coast is the honesty boxes you stumble across in churches, village halls and roadsides. These would give me a quick opportunity to pick up a drink and take on some sugars! I stopped at a church in Marske one day and spent over £10 on just about everything they had - chocolate, crisps, biscuits, flapjacks, and more.
As well as navigating, I was filming my journey for YouTube. Constantly thinking about what to film and say helped keep my mind active. I’d try to make fast progress during the day to arrive at my planned destination as early as possible, so I had more recovery time (mentally and physically) before the next day. It also gave me more time in the pub, of which there are plenty on the walk!
Watch Dan's journey on YouTube
Expecting the unexpected
One morning, descending into Honister Slate Mine, I fell badly and went over on my ankle, as well as tearing my waterproof. What could I do? Stop and doubt myself or patch myself up and keep moving forward? You have to adapt to whatever the journey throws at you.
A funnier moment was while making the summit of Lining Crag, which is a steep climb. Going across the top, I came across a boggy section and proceeded with caution. Anyone who’s seen The Vicar of Dibley knows what happened next - one step in a ‘puddle’ turned out to be one step up to the thigh into a bog. I was wet, dirty and hot, but I laughed it off and cracked on. It’s a story to tell!
You can do far more than you think
Looking back on the experience, it was a lot tougher than I’d imagined. But I learned that you’re capable of far more than you think. The hardest thing about it was overcoming pain. Crossing the Yorkshire Dales in the driving rain with my injured ankle was incredibly painful. But I found a gait which resembled Olympic walking and this relieved the pressure.
Strangely, the best thing about the experience were some of the hardest moments. And this is because I have the memory of being able to push through difficult times.
When I finally reached the finish line it was overwhelming to have so many of my family and friends there. It felt like coming back into reality. They were proud, relieved, and surprised I was moving so well!
Receiving an Impact Award from the MS Society, recognising my efforts, made me feel a sense of achievement. But it also made me think that I need to do more.
Looking to 2023
After Christmas comes a year of trails and adventures. I’m going to have a go at breaking the fastest known time for an unsupported coast to coast walk. It currently stands at four days, 12 hours. Maybe that'll be one I aim to raise money on - we’ll see!
If you’re thinking about doing a fundraising challenge, I’d simply say to go for it. If you’re someone who overthinks and doubts themselves as much as me, just push through. There’s nothing negative about it. You can raise money for a great cause, and it can benefit you on a personal level too – as it’s done for me!
