Horsham Waitrose team win South Downs event

They set off from Devil’s Dyke at midnight on Friday July 25 and walked along the South Downs to finish at Beachy Head, covering the overnight 40-mile trek in just 12 hours and 24 minutes. They have raised £1,500 for Action Medical Research.

They crossed the line in second place to the Brewers Red team who crossed the line at 11.50am, but the Waitrose team beat them on the overall points table because there are challenges to complete throughout the route.

Paul Newton was the captain of the Waitrose team and Victoria Baker, Peter Byrne and Lauren White were walkers with Barbara Wilson acting as the support driver.

Paul Newton, Partner Coordination Manager, commented: “It was definitely hard work but all had a fantastic time and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good team-building exercise. We are looking forward to coming back next year to defend our title.”

Twenty-nine teams took part in the South Downs Way PLOD, raising over £50,000 for Action Medical Research.

The event may be a charity walk but don’t be fooled, teams needed their stamina and wits about them to navigate a 40-mile route through the darkness as they pushed on to watch the sun rise and steam ahead through the following day.

Setting out from the Devil’s Dyke, it’s a tough event but great fun and very rewarding, with many teams coming back the next year to beat their previous time.

Teams that participated in the South Downs Way PLOD raised money to help fund medical research into conditions affecting babies and children. Medical research can save and change children’s lives.

Yet surprisingly, medical research into conditions that devastate children’s lives is poorly funded.

Action Medical Research is currently supporting work around stillbirth, epilepsy, meningitis, cerebral palsy and brain cancer, as well as some rare and distressing conditions that severely affect children.

Report and picture contributed by Action Medical Research.