Two intrepid walkers have reached the finish line of a gruelling 190-mile challenge – and smashed their fundraising target for a hospital intensive care baby unit.
Long-time friends Matt Dyke and Martin Church, who met at school in North Walsham, braved howling wind, torrential rain, blisters and muscle strains in an epic trek from Cumbria to Yorkshire in just five days.
When the going got tough they had to split into two teams so they could walk at their own pace - with Matt finishing a day earlier than Martin.
But they reunited to triumphantly arrive at Robin Hood’s Bay together and grabbed an ice cream to celebrate licking their challenge.
Their efforts have so far raised almost £8,500 for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital’s neo-natal intensive care unit, which has helped both dads when their babies arrived prematurely.
The total is way beyond the men’s £5,750 target – and they hope further donations will come in now they have completed their Coast to Coast challenge in less than their six day goal.
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Both of Martin’s children have been helped by the unit. His first, Charlie, arrived eight weeks early in 2018, then Mabel was 14 weeks premature in December 2021 weighing just 820 grams or 1.8lb, less than a bag of sugar. Matt’s daughter Rosa was five weeks premature in 2014.
Shortly after finishing Anglian Water field technician Martin, 41, from Horsford said: “I am just so tired – I just want to get home, see the family, have a pizza and a good night’s sleep.
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“The highlights were some stunning scenery, especially in the Lake District which was full of lambs, and the team camaraderie.
"The lowlights were a knee injury which meant I let Matt go on at his own pace, and the tough terrain which was bleak at times.”
Matt, 37, a project manager for Wall Engineering in his home town of North Walsham, added: "It was much harder than we imagined.
"Even the flatter bits, where we thought we would make up time were tricky - boggy, slippery and you were having to jump over or walk around obstructions, mud and water.
“Our bodies are battered, bruised, blistered and swollen but we’re completely overwhelmed by the support, words of encouragement and donations received.
“My highlight was seeing Martin battle on and reuniting with him to reach the finish together – where we dipped our toes in the sea in the Coast to Coast tradition then treated ourselves to an ice cream.”
Both men paid tribute to their support team – driver Colm McGilway and sports therapists Sally Ling and Lisa Payne from Up and Running Treatments, who repaired their aching bodies along the way, plus various friends and guests who joined them for stretches of the walk to boost sometimes flagging morale.
They also thanked Stebbings Car Superstore at King’s Lynn for donating a crew van and tank of fuel.
They averaged around 14 hours of walking a day, without stopping, and eating as they went.
Their route took them through the Lake District, over the Pennines, across the North York Moors ascending a total height twice as high as Mount Everest’s base camp to the summit.
Donations towards their fundraising can be made via their JustGiving page and via collection boxes in North Walsham’s Mundesley Road and Happisburgh Road stores.
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