Taking on the South Coast Ultra Challenge
Rarely have I felt so humbled as on Saturday just gone, when Jim and I (Jim Scott, Co-founder of Artemis Aerospace) took part in the South Coast Ultra Challenge, walking 25km from Eastbourne to Alfriston.
An incredible feat of endurance
While anyone taking the 25km option as we did certainly put in lots of time and effort to train and fundraise for their chosen causes, I was in complete admiration of those taking the 50km and even 100km routes! Some hardy 100km trekkers even decided to walk non-stop, forgoing the opportunity to camp overnight, and plough on until they reached the finish line.
The entire event was impressive; so well organised and enormous fun — despite the sore muscles, blisters and less-than-pretty post-walk feet many of the participants suffered from.
A cause that means so much
This was the first time that Jim and I had taken on the South Coast Ultra Challenge. We wanted to do it, not just to give ourselves a physical challenge to work towards, but also because it gave us an opportunity to support a charity that means so much to us.
From a friend, I heard of a remarkable couple, Matt and Nicki Spiers, who were organising a group of walkers to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity after losing their beloved 13-year-old daughter, Issy, to a brain tumour earlier this year. Issy was unwell for 4 years before she tragically died. It’s devastating for a family to have to go through.
A few years ago, a brain tumour also took my father. A previously spritely and healthy man, it was a horrendous thing for him to experience and for us, his family, to have to watch. Some years before, Jim ran a marathon for The Brain Tumour Charity after a family we knew lost their young son to a tumour. Needless to say, it’s a cause very close to our hearts. So, as soon as we heard about Matt and Nicki’s group and what they were fundraising for, we knew we had to take part.
An electric atmosphere
Around 1500 people participated in the challenge, all raising money for good causes they cared so deeply about. It was a brilliant event to be a part of.
The nerves kicked in at the start line, but we were soon enjoying spectacular scenery and getting to know the wonderful people that made up our group, including Issy’s mum and dad, brother Jamie and uncle Daniel. The weather was kind to us and after five and a half hours, we proudly made it to the finishing line, cheering on those who were walking the longer routes.
Fundraising total and more to be done
The group we were lucky enough to be invited to join has so far collectively raised £56,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity. It’s a tremendous total and we feel so privileged to have played just a small part in that.
Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and young adults under 40. While survival rates for many other childhood cancers have improved over recent decades, brain tumour survival rates have lagged behind due to underfunding. If you’d like to find out more about Issy’s story or make a donation to help us reach a much needed £60,000, please visit Nicki Spiers’ fundraising page.
Big ambitions for 2027
So inspired were we by the passion of the organisers and the participants, not to mention everyone who so kindly donated, that we’ve decided to take on the South Coast Ultra Challenge again next year. But in 2027, we want to double down. I’ll be walking the 50km and Jim is going for the 100km!
We’d better start training now…
To find out more about The Brain Tumour Charity, visit their website.
