Taking Great Strides
Two ‘Great Strides 65’ fundraising walks took place on 11 June in Wales and England, with over 300 people taking part to support the Trust’s vital work.
Great Strides 65 West
Five teams took part in the Wales, the first event of its kind organised in the area, covering famous landmarks such as Pen Y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales, and the Brecon and Monmouthsire Canal Path. Teams took an average of 15 hours to complete the course and have raised over £8,700 so far.
Great Strides 65 South
In the south of England, an incredible 31 teams got involved, including a team who broke the course record and finish in 11 hours and 55 minutes. Six people with cystic fibrosis took part, including 12-year-old Sophia Record, who walked 18 miles with her team of friends and her mum Jenny.
Great Strides superstar!
This year, 17-year-old Luke Copsey became the second person with cystic fibrosis ever to complete the whole of a Great Strides course. Luke is in good company, as the only other person to achieve this great feat is Nick Talbot, who recently became the first person with the cystic fibrosis to conquer Everest. The image shows Luke within minutes of finishing the gruelling challenge.
Jess Nickless, Fundraising Support Officer at the Trust, said: “It's a tough event, and a truly amazing achievement; I know Luke's parents are so proud of him! We can't wait to see what challenge he takes on next.”
Future events
Denise, a participant in Great Strides 65 West, said “The support and enthusiasm was amazing and we all really enjoyed the walk (and the sweets and chocolates). We would thoroughly recommend this event to anyone!”
Overall, these events have raised over £80,000 – if you’d like to join the fight for a life unlimited, you can sign up for Great Strides 65 East or take part in the family-friendly Great Strides Northern Ireland. Dates for next year’s events are to be announced soon.