Multiple charities benefit from the aches and pains of walkers
HUNDREDS of people were nursing aching legs and blistered feet yesterday after the annual Saffery Rotary round-the-island walk.
About 700 people set off from the Weighbridge from 4.30am on Saturday.
Most were expected to take 12 hours to complete the full 39-mile distance, but stragglers were still coming in at about 9.30pm.
Some who did not want to tackle the full distance took part in relay teams, while there were more than 30 walkers from the Guernsey Disability Alliance.
The walkers were raising money for projects put forward by 20 local charities, including Citizens Advice Guernsey, the Guernsey Scout Association and the Schools Library Service. Some chose to take advantage of a breakfast stop at Le Gouffre on the cliff section of the course, including Chloe Dempsey, 23, and friends Sophie Rabey, 24, and Tia Harvey, 23.
Miss Dempsey, who is a nurse, said she had already completed the route in sections, but never more than two at a time.
Miss Rabey, who works in hospitality, said she had completed her gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award last week by walking 92km over four days in The Brecon Beacons as part of her preparation.
‘I think the longest I’ve walked on this course before is about half of the cliffs,’ she said.
Nursing assistant Miss Harvey said the walk from St Peter Port to Le Gouffre had been wet and windy.
The women said it was a good challenge for a good cause and that they hoped to be finished by about 7pm.
Auditor Jeff Mathews, 22, took part with his girlfriend, Jessica Laws, 22, who lives in Exeter.
Miss Laws said it was a good way for her to see the island. She had recently walked distances of 10 miles both in the UK and the United States.
‘The cliffs are a lot higher than I expected,’ she said. ‘I’m not very confident that we’ll finish, but if we can manage 20 miles each then we will have done the full distance between us.’
Mr Mathews, who lives in Guernsey, originates from the Isle of Wight where he said his father had recently taken part in a walking festival. He submitted his entry first and then persuaded his astronomer girlfriend to take part with him.
As well as Le Gouffre, there were checkpoints for walkers at Jerbourg, The Imperial Hotel, Cobo, Chouet, and Bordeaux.
