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5 reasons to sign up to Great Strides™
1. The stunning – and very Instagrammable – views!
When signing up to Great Strides, you can choose to trek the Surrey Hills or the Brecon Beacons. Whichever area you choose, trust us, you’ll want your camera at the ready! In Surrey, you can see the Devil’s Punch Bowl, which legend says was created when the Devil threw a handful of earth at Thor! Plus, experience the beauty of Hankley Common, a nature reserve that features in the James Bond film Skyfall, no less! A Dry Martini (shaken, not stirred!) in your water bottle is optional! The Brecon Beacons route takes you through another area of outstanding natural beauty; think rolling hills, deep forests, canals and the highest mountain in South Wales!
2. Make a difference
We’re not just in it for the Instagram shots, of course. Every penny you raise will make a huge difference to people living with cystic fibrosis in the UK, funding vital research and helping make sure that everybody with CF can a live without limits. Since the event started in 2012, our amazing Great Strides team has raised over £750,000! That’s enough to fund a four-year Strategic Research Centre (SRC) programme, bringing together scientists from all over the world to work on ground-breaking research to improve the lives of everyone living with CF.
3. Spend time with friends and meet new people
A day spent walking with your nearest and dearest, incredible scenery, laughs along the way and unforgettable memories — now that sounds like our kind of Saturday! Getting involved in a sponsored trek like Great Strides is always incredibly social: during your training and on the day, you’ll spend lots of quality time with your family and friends, experiencing something amazing together as a team. If you’re embarking on a solo adventure, Great Strides is a great way to meet like-minded people who are passionate about making a difference for people with CF.
I think Great Strides is an amazing personal challenge, as well as raising awareness of the Trust and doing something to support families like ours. We really enjoy this kind of challenge and love to see the CF community coming together – both walkers and supporters. When the walk gets tough, I remind myself that those with CF face daily challenges and that I can get through this one day!
CF mum Denise shares her reasons for taking part in Great Strides
4. Improve your fitness
Is that New Year’s Resolution you made at the start of the year feeling like a distant memory? If you need some extra motivation to get fit, training for Great Strides can be the incentive you’re looking for! If you do enough training, the likelihood is that you’ll be in better shape before you even start your challenge — not to mention how great you’ll feel afterwards!
5. And feel amazing!
That warm, fuzzy feeling you’ll have at the end of the trek, knowing you’ve made a difference to the lives of those with CF, is hard to beat!
So, what are you waiting for? Sign up to Great Strides today and put your best foot forward for people with CF. Who’s in?
Whether you’re an experienced hiker or lacing up your walking boots for your first ever trek challenge, we’d love to see you at Great Strides™ 2022. Join us in the Surrey Hills for a 65km challenge on 11 June, or in the Brecon Beacons for a 40km challenge on 18 June – and help us raise vital funds to make sure everyone with CF can live a life unlimited.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition which causes sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system. It affects more than 10,800 people in the UK. One in 25 of us carries the faulty gene that causes it, usually without knowing.
Fundraising carried out by our community helps us fund vital research and support those living with CF. Help fund cutting edge research into new therapies and treatments by taking part in Great Strides™!