Their story, in their words….
Aside from challenging ourselves, our aim was to raise as much money as possible for YoungMinds, a charity that supports young people with their mental health. In support of this, we decided to walk along the south coast and visit Beachy Head, a well-known location for suicides, on our second day. This experience was extremely rewarding for all three of us as it was physically and mentally challenging throughout, but there was a great sense of achievement when we finally reached Brighton Pier having raised £425 on our Go Fund Me page from our family and friends.
On our first day we got a train from Victoria to Hastings, getting there at midday and starting our six and a half hour walk from Hastings Pier to Pevensey Bay where our first campsite was located. We really underestimated how difficult it would be, especially trying to carry heavy backpacks in 34*C heat with barely any wind or shade. Yet we persevered and made it to the campsite with just enough time to eat and set up the tent for the night- which created another issue because we forgot the mallet!
The next morning consisted of forcing ourselves to put shoes on our blistered feet and pick up what seemed like an even heavier backpack, but we made it up and out by 9am. The heat was still a problem, so we made sure to frequently stop for cold bottles of water. We walked past Eastbourne Pier and hiked up the cliffs of Beachy Head- which were SO much steeper than we anticipated- Ellie even twisted her ankle halfway up so that added to the length of the hike. However, the views at the top were so picturesque and it felt very peaceful, so it was all worth it in the end. We stopped for lunch at the visitor center before setting off on the last few miles to the campsite in Seaford. After setting up the tent at the campsite, we took a short walk to the beach and ate fish and chips by the sea. It was definitely the hardest day of the hike.
The third day started a bit slower than the one before, but we were determined to make it to Brighton. We had to apply extra sun cream after burning the day before and had to take more frequent breaks as there was no shade on the undercliff path we walked along. We walked for miles, but when we turned the corner and finally saw the pier clearly, the mood improved and our goal finally seemed achievable. It was incredibly rewarding arriving at Brighton Pier and quite literally throwing our backpacks down so we could rest, knowing we had finished the hike. The trains home to London were all delayed and busy, so it made the end of the journey just as challenging as the start.
It took us 3 days and 43 miles to get to Brighton and we are extremely proud of ourselves for doing it. It was an amazing opportunity to push ourselves out of our comfort zone and challenge ourselves. Thank you to the Mark Evison Foundation for making it all possible.
