If you haven’t already sponsored Bryan Clover, ceo of The Rainy Day Trust, now is the time to acknowledge his latest mighty feat. Raising funds to support the industry charity’s mental health programme, Bryan has just walked 84 miles non-stop from Bristol to Reading.
While aiming to complete his journey in 48 hours, Bryan smashed his target and reached Reading in just 32 hours and 42 minutes. So far, he has raised over £8,600 (plus Gift Aid), with the hope of hitting £10,000.
To congratulate Bryan and help him reach his target go to his Just Giving page.
Writing on Sunday (September 19) Bryan reported: “My 84-mile non-stop hike from Bath to Reading is now complete. I managed all 84 miles in 32hrs 42 min and, not to beat about the bush, it hurt. A lot. By the end, it was more of a shuffle than a walk. I was down to about 1.5 mph. At Reading I was completely spent. I had hit the proverbial wall with no energy left in my legs. I had taken a stonking 166,500 steps in less than one and a half days.
“Today (Sunday) standing up is a challenge, and walking, well basically, that isn’t going to happen for a while. Had breakfast in bed for the first time in years. I’m not sure how, but I think I may have broken a toe!
“Sean Morgan’s bacon butties and coffee on Saturday morning in Newbury gave me the energy and drive to keep going – Sean works for one of the sponsors and provided re-fuelling stops for me every 6 hours. I had gone through an awful night in thick fog, visibility down to a few feet, had fallen several times (not clever next to a canal), and turned my ankle more times than I care to think about. The fog had cold soaked me and my morale had disappeared; frankly I nearly bailed out at 102km. Sean and his bacon butties gave me the energy to keep going – he is an absolute star! Thank you as well to Aaron Frogley and Mel for turning up at midnight with emergency supplies!
“Most people get blisters on their feet – I have blisters with a foot on them! But, as my old instructor Rolly Watts at RAF Cranwell used to say: “It’s only pain, it will end”. We are raising money for our mental health project, and this hike tested me mentally in ways that I couldn’t have imagined, especially overnight. Quite appropriate when you think about it.”
Thanking his major sponsors including Dexam, Burton McCall, Home Hardware and Stax, Bryan says to all the members of the housewares industry that have contributed to his fundraising efforts: “Thank you for sponsoring me – it’s a cliche, but to know that people care enough to throw their hard-earned cash at something like this, but it does spur you on, knowing that people have faith in you.”
Explaining the hike numbers: the distance was equivalent to 134km or 166,500 steps, with 9,200 calories burned. Bryan carried 18kg including water, food and spare clothes, and consumed 13 bottles of water, and 2 litres of Coke drunk, five bananas and “too many oaty bars to count.”
Bryan concluded: “Take it from me, I’m NEVER doing that again. Until I change my mind that is! And to the guy on Saturday morning who said that it was easy because it was flat, you are so lucky you didn’t end up in the canal!”
Here’s the LINK if you haven’t already shown your support. Bryan says: “If it misbehaves, just type in my name in the search box and look for 84in48.”
Visit www.rainydaytrust.org.uk
Top: The route taken by Bryan on his journey, which started at 7am on Friday September 17.
