Pals take on 50-mile overnight walk for charity

Norfolk man Matt Dunscombe writes about a 50-mile trek he and a group of friends are taking on to raise money for a very special charity. 

It’s been five years since my friends Duncan Carmichael and Kevin Herring and I ventured out on an epic trek across 96 miles of this wonderful county over four days, raising money for Nelson’s Journey – a charity based in Norfolk which supports children that have experienced the death of a significant person in their lives.

CHARITY TREK: Matt Dunscombe and two of his friends on their last walk.

My motivation and drive back in 2020 came from a place of sadness, having lost my wife Rachel earlier that year from an aggressive cancer, which came into our lives only four months before she passed away.

My two sons and I were helped and supported by Nelson’s Journey that summer – albeit online due to the impact of Covid. The boys benefitted hugely from the service that the charity provided – from their kindness, patience and understanding.

So, that autumn, we gave back!

And now, we want to do that again. This time there will be seven of us walking – including Duncan and Kevin again – and the challenge is shorter but, I would say, harder.

On Friday October 10, we are walking 50 miles, through the night, all-in-one-go! The plan is to complete the distance in about 22 hours. We will start at Trunch (on the Paston Way), heading into Cromer. From there we will be taking Weaver’s Way to Aylsham and then onto Norwich via Marriott’s Way. It won’t be easy but again the motivation is to raise money for such an important cause.

Practice walks have helped this time. Our initial challenge was blessed with a naivety that meant we were not put off from giving it a go. Having experienced the challenges of a long distance walk now, we are more aware of the difficulties that lie ahead. But it will be fun and an amazing experience.

My boys will always be thankful for the impact that Nelson’s Journey had on their lives, helping to cope with the loss of their mum and knowing that whatever they felt was ‘ok.’ They learnt that grief was personal and individual, but also to be shared.
I, too, will always be grateful. And this is my way of saying thank you, supported by a fantastic group of friends.

So, if you wish to contribute any amount to such a worthy cause, please take a look at our JustGiving page – any amount is truly much appreciated.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/a-norfolk-50-miler