Local Estate Agents walk 35km for charity

Two of the team at Guy Leonard & Co Estate Agents have successfully completed the 35km A2B Walk up hill and down dale across the beautiful South Downs, raising a total of £625 for charity. The walkers started at Arundel Castle and finally finished at the top of Devils Dyke in Brighton, completing a challenge organised by Pied A Terre Adventures in aid of the Dame Vera Lynn Trust for Children with Cerebral Palsy.

The walk started at 7am from Arundel Castle after a motivational talk from Richard Betts, the Pied A Terre Group Leader. Michelle, Marketing Manager at Guy Leonard & Co, felt a slow, steady pace was the way forward this early in the morning with a gradual climb through Arundel Park starting off the 35km. It was noted by the other team member, Kate Batchelor, that Michelle picked up the pace approaching the top of Kithurst Hill as the Pied A Terre refreshment stop was in sight!

After a welcome cup of tea at 12km from the support team, Michelle and Kate set off again across the top of the South Downs, however the views were somewhat obscured by the thick fog that still hadn’t lifted. The walk was then fairly uneventful until they reached Washington, whereupon they had to cross a field with two horses, in order to reach the next hill. The horses who appeared to be quietly grazing obviously smelt the snacks in Kate’s rucksack - the leisurely walk across the field turned into more of a sprint to the other side as they cantered over and tried to get into Kate’s bag!

By the time the team reached Chantonbury Ring the sun had broken through and Kate and Michelle were rewarded with some stunning views across the countryside. From this vantage point they could see a vague outline of Devil’s Dyke in the distance, acting as encouragement to push on and reach the destination.

Breaking it down into sections, Michelle & Kate successfully reached the top and rewarded themselves with a quick refreshment stop at the Youth Hostel at the top of the hill. Once at the top, the end was literally in sight, however there is still a considerable expanse of undulating Downs to cross to reach it! Up and down, and up and down they went and eventually reached the finish line at the top of Devils Dyke.

The whole Team at Guy Leonard & Co are very proud that Michelle and Kate completed the whole 35km from Arundel Park to Devils Dyke in a little over 8 hours and in good shape! Michelle commented, ‘it was a great day and the beautiful weather really helped. We’ve a real sense of achievement completing the walk and raising money for a really worthwhile local charity at the same time.’ She continued, ‘we walked with one of the parents who had really benefitted from using the Dame Vera Lynn School with her daughter and it’s great to feel we have contributed in some way to helping the school continue it’s fabulous work’.

For further information please contact Michelle Betts, Media & Marketing Manager, michellebetts@guyleonard.co.uk, 01403 248222