"Never once did I ever contemplate giving up."

Please note: this post is 94 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only

What on earth inspired me to walk 100km from London 2 Brighton on a warm May Bank Holiday weekend? Trust me, this was something I was asking myself around 62km in, at 3am on that Sunday morning with nothing but the faint beam of light from my head torch for company. 

Hello! I’m Rob, and I’ve been a volunteer at South London Cares now for a couple of months. Not long after attending my first Social Club, the idea of the London 2 Brighton Challenge began to appeal to me. I’d had a wonderful time at the Film Club in Bermondsey. I was made to feel very welcome by my neighbours in what almost felt like the first day of school. I enjoyed meeting all the friendly and interesting older neighbours, enjoying a cup of tea and watching a movie together. I left feeling inspired. I had just seen first-hand what a positive difference South London Cares can have on the community, and all of a sudden, I wanted to do as much as I could to ensure that never changes. 

I’d first heard about the London 2 Brighton challenge at my induction evening. I have to admit it was something I had brushed off, thinking ‘Well, it’s too late to do it this year, but maybe next year.’ But, when my friend who volunteers for North London Cares told me she was also doing it, I couldn’t really say no. So I did a bit of research and read some stories from previous years’ events, and before I knew it, I had signed up. The idea of raising money for an amazing cause like South London Cares while also challenging my body to the toughest test it’ll ever have to endure gave me a real buzz. 

Cut to 8am Saturday 27th May. I’m in Deer Park, Richmond, and I’m with the whole South London Cares and North London Cares gang, ready to take on the toughest challenge of our lives. Everyone was excited to get going. I’d done some practice walks, my feet were taped up as well as they could be, my backpack was crammed full of the essentials (snacks, water, clothes, paracetamol, sun cream, plasters – you get the idea), and I’d smashed my fundraising target. Spirits were very high.

There’s no denying that walking 100km for over 24-hours with no sleep is tough. In fact, it could well be the most gruelling feat of endurance you’ll ever undertake. You’ll get emotional (I cried at the 71km mark after my two walking buddies pulled out and I ended up walking 8km alone). You’ll be in agony for days afterwards. You’ll barely be able to walk, let alone stand up, and it could take a couple of weeks before you’re feeling like your old self again. 

But despite all the tears, blisters, blood, sore muscles and achy joints, that feeling you get when you cross that finish line at Brighton Racetrack – when you’re handed a glass of champagne and a medal is draped around your neck – cannot be beaten.

So, what on earth did inspire me to walk 100km from London to Brighton? When I went to my second Social Club a week or so before the walk, I told one of the neighbours, Pat, what I was doing and why. Her face immediately lit up and she gave me a great big hug and a kiss and said “Thank you, thank you, thank you”, and told anyone around her that “Rob is walking to Brighton for us!”. That was my inspiration. Pat was my inspiration. To see what these Social Clubs mean to so many people. Knowing that the money I was raising would continue to keep these fantastic Clubs running, and the beaming smiles on the faces of my neighbours is what kept me motivated. Never once did I ever contemplate giving up. If the thought crossed my mind, I’d think about who I was doing it for.

If you’re thinking about taking part in the London 2 Brighton Challenge next year – or joining South London Cares for one of their walks – here’s some advice. Respect how far 100km actually is and train as much as possible. I didn’t, and it probably cost me a couple of hours on the day. It can be strange trying to train for walk, but get involved in as many of the practice walks South London Cares organises. They’re great fun and you get to meet everyone you’ll be trekking to Brighton with. Go for a walk in your lunch break, walk home from work, get off the tube a couple of stops before yours and walk the rest of the way home. And remember, take extremely good care of your feet. Buy Zinc Oxide tape, buy double-layered blister socks, buy decent walking shoes. It’ll make the world of difference I can assure you. 

And if you’re lucky like me, you’ll only feel a big blister pop on the left foot at 99km, rather than at 49km. I’ll leave you with that mental image.

Thank you Rob, for sharing your story. If you've been inspired by Rob's journey, you can check out our forthcoming challenge events here.