Twelve gifts of Christmas – Just Walk brings to you!

In the spirit of goodwill and festive cheer, here at Just Walk, we have decided to make this Christmas a little more special for you. Having called the North Pole and spoken to the big man himself, it would seem a lot of you are on the nice list, so to celebrate we have put together a few special offers for you, your friends, and your family to take advantage of between Monday 12^th December through to Friday 23^rd December 2016.

It’s really simple; each day from the 12^th December and for the next 12 days after that, we will release an exclusive festive offer on our Facebook page (found here) that you can use to save money on your chosen route. Whether you are walking alone, with your family or as part of a group, there is something for everyone.

We understand that you may need time to pull together a team of people or rally your family together, so you will have 5 days to redeem the offer. Unfortunately if you do not redeem the offer within this time limit you will miss out, so please act quickly!

Take a look at the dates below, see which route you’ll be able to obtain an offer on, then from 9.30am on the 12 listed days, we’ll release the offers on our Facebook page, for you to redeem on our website (for group bookings, you will need to email us for a form)

Monday 12th December
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: A partridge in a pear tree
An offer on route: 60km

Tuesday 13th December

On the second day of Christmas, my parents gave to me: Two turtle doves

An offer on route: 10km (under 16’s)

Wednesday 14th December
On the third day of Christmas, my children gave to me: Three French hens

An offer on route: 10km  (over 16’s)

Thursday 15th December

On the fourth day of Christmas, my partner gave to me: Four calling birds

An offer on route: 20km  (over 16’s)

Friday 16th December

On the fifth day of Christmas, my granny gave to me: Five golden rings

An offer on route: 20km (under 16’s)

Saturday 17th December

On the sixth day of Christmas, my best mate gave to me: Six geese a-laying

An offer for a group of 6

Sunday 18th December

On the seventh day of Christmas, my nephew gave to me: Seven swans a-swimming

An offer on route: 40km  (over 16’s)

Monday 19th December

On the eighth day of Christmas, my sister gave to me: Eight maids a milking

An offer for a group of 9

Tuesday 20^th December

On the ninth day of Christmas, my girlfriend gave to me: Nine ladies dancing

An offer on route: 60km  (over 16’s)

Wednesday 21st December

On the tenth day of Christmas, my grandpa gave to me: Ten lords a leaping

An offer on route: 30km  (over 16’s)

Thursday 22nd December

On the eleventh day of Christmas, Rudolph gave to me: Eleven pipers piping

An offer on route: 10km for a Family Ticket

Friday 23rd December

On the twelfth day of Christmas, Santa gave to me: Twelve drummers drumming

An offer on route: 20km for a Family Ticket

Merry Christmas everyone!

** Please email events@acrossthedivide.com for all group bookings and a booking form will be sent out to you to complete.

Next steps:

How do redeem the offer

For routes: Visit our website by clicking here, and when you register for your chosen route, the price will have already been changed so you can add that route to your basket and register straight away it is as simple as that!

For groups: Send us an email ASAP to events@acrossthedivide.com requesting a group booking form. We will send you a form, then you submit the completed form to us within the 5 days of the offer being released.   

Find out all the items included in your event fee here

Now for the less interesting, non-Christmassy, yet essential bits; here are the T&C’s:

·         Each offer will be released on our Just Walk Facebook page.

·         You will have 5 days to redeem the offer from the date it is published on Facebook. Unfortunately if you do not redeem the offer within this time limit you will miss it, so please act quickly.

·         The offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other existing offer. 

·         The discounts are as stated above; they cannot be exchanged, and no cash alternative is available.

·         Just Walk Across the Divide reserves the right to refuse redemption. 

·         ** Please email events@acrossthedivide.com for all group bookings and a booking form will be sent out to you to complete. 

Experiencing problems?

If you experience any issues whilst trying to redeem the offer, please double-check the date to ensure you’re within the 5 day time limit.

If you do not have any joy, you can email us at events@acrossthedivide.com with the route and offer you wish to redeem and we’ll look into this issue for you. Please note if it is very close to Christmas, we’ll be in touch after the festive holidays once we’ve rested our walking legs, but please be reassured, we will come back to you.

Walking 60km with 80yr old David

We’d like to introduce you to the inspirational David Hawkins. At the magnificent age of 80 years old, David has joined us on eight occasions always doing the 60km at our Just Walk events, meaning he first joined us at the mature age of 72!

Being out in the fresh air, chatting with new people he meets along the way, and keeping fit and active are what drives David on each year. Read on to find out about his greatest moments and the secrets to his success…

“I took up walking approximately 11 years ago after retiring from a period as a Local District Councillor where my busy schedule didn’t allow me the time to enjoy many hobbies. When I retired, I started walking a little bit everyday and soon found I really enjoyed myself. ’I decided to join the Leadon Vale branch of the Ramblers and managed to get elected as a Malvern Hills Conservator. I also became a walk leader for the Annual Malvern Walking Festival and the Herefordshire Walking Festival and so my newly found hobby soon became my passion. Most days now, I’m out walking or popping down to my local gym for my spinning class. I’ve always been quite a determined person and if someone questions if I should be doing something, I like to prove them wrong where I can.”

“Once I realised that I enjoyed walking, especially the longer hikes which suit my walking pace and style, I started looking for walking challenges to set myself a goal and have something big to aim for. I started walking with other organised walks and was looking for other challenges when I was recommended Just Walk. For the last 8 years I have taken on the Just Walk 60km route, I’m not going to lie it doesn’t get any easier and in fact the last year was my toughest, but I enjoy making new friends, walking across the stunning route and completing my personal challenge. The Just Walk challenge has given me the opportunity to raise substantial funds for many very worthwhile causes. In recent years it has been for a local Hospice where, my daughter, Becki was a hospice nurse but is now a McMillan nurse. It is a great way for me to raise much needed funds as well as give something back to my local community.”

“Even though I regularly cover many miles on a weekly basis it still takes a lot of preparation and training in the lead up to my 60km walk. I generally start my training just after Christmas, taking myself up to the ridge of the Malvern Hills near where I live in the West Midlands where I walk the 12 mile length of the Hills and back. The demanding undulating terrain provides an ideal preparation for the challenging Just Walk ahead especially the dreaded Bignor Hill. George Mullery carried out all his training on these in preparation for the attempt to conquer Mount Everest in 1924. I find it helps to train on hilly terrain to help prepare myself for the Just Walk event as it is very different to flat road walking for example.”

“It is important to train properly so come the day of the event you won’t have anything to worry about, and can simply enjoy the day. The atmosphere is truly amazing, with everyone socialising and talking to you so it doesn’t matter if you are walking by yourself (like I do), or if you are in a group, as everyone supports one another. I had my lovely daughter Becki and her friend Wendy come to support me last year, which was fantastic. They waved me off at the start line. They met up with me at the Arundel ‘Power Station’ then at the top of the challenging Bignor Hill and eventually at the finish. In 2015, the year before last I was surprised to be informed at the end of the walk that I had finished in the top 25 of the 75 walkers doing the 60 km walk. Last year I had hoped to exceed this achievement. To my surprise at the start of the walk to celebrate my 80^th birthday the Just Walk organisers wonderfully feted me hence the 007 number. In view of this I was determined to do well and finish in a triumphant manner. However, things did not work out well. A long-term problem with my shoulders returned about half way around the course and I was really struggling and instead of finishing at around 9.30pm as the previous year I even struggled to finish by 11.00pm. Obviously, my daughter was very worried and wondered what had happened.”

“I look forward to my walk every year, and have so many fantastic memories from each one. One of my best memories was of the 60km walk I did a couple of years ago, where I saw a group of army cadets in their early twenties run off all guns blazing (not literally). About three quarters of the way around the route, I came across one of the lads literally hanging on to a fence saying he couldn’t carry on. Not one for giving up, we started chatting about Newcastle on Tyne, a common association we had and ended up walking around the course together. A little further on, we came across two more of his group, sitting down, complaining of serious cramp and blisters. After a few words of encouragement, we all set off again and continued on as a merry band of men. As we came to the home straight, I urged them to cross the finishing line together to huge cheers from the crowd whilst I followed at a discreet distance behind, and felt proud to have helped them to that point. It was a special moment when afterwards they came back to me and said “Thank you David, we wouldn’t have been able to finish the walk without you”. It just goes to show you that age is just a number!”

Will David be walking the 60km in 2017? He says “I’ll wait and see.”

If you feel inspired, and would like to walk one of our Just Walk routes (you can choose 10km, 20km, 30km, 40km or the BIG 60km), then click here to find out more and book your place today. 

We’re delighted to confirm First Days as our second Charity Partner

We are extremely pleased to introduce our other charity partner: First Days, an amazing children’s charity that truly makes a difference supporting those struggling to provide for their young families.

First Days rightly believe every child deserves the same start in life, so the team plus their volunteers work tirelessly to provide families in need with clothing, toys and even the essentials such as nappies, wipes and blankets.

There are currently 4 million children in the UK living in poverty, so for 2017 the First Days team are completing 4 million steps to help raise awareness and much needed funds for their very worthy cause.

Just Walk your chunk of 4 million steps, for 4 million children

First Days will be enlisting a group of 50 walkers to join them on the 13^th May 2017, on our Just Walk challenge, across one of the most scenic parts of the English country side; the South-Downs.

Setting off from Goodwood Racecourse in Chichester, First Days charity walkers will cover 10k, 20k, 30k, 40k, or 60k whilst fundraising for First Days families, making them feel supported, comfortable and secure. 

Acting against child poverty

Unfortunately, poverty can affect us all, a change of circumstance; illness or loss of a job can very quickly lead to families finding it hard to make ends meet. This is where First Days do an incredible job of raising awareness for child poverty in the UK as well as taking action, collecting donated clothing; toys; equipment and furniture and redistributing them to families in need via childcare professionals.

With one in four children living in poverty in the UK, that’s 9 in every class of 30 children, now is the time to act and make it count. First Days admirable plan for 2017 is to raise enough money to buy new mattresses for every referred child, from new-borns to 6 years old, ensuring a safe night’s sleep for the little ones who need it. It is quite often the little things that we take for granted, this great charity acknowledges this and strives relentlessly to ensure these young families are supported and looked after when their need is greatest.

If you are feeling inspired and would like to make a difference, First Days would love for you to join their team on the Just Walk challenge.

To find out more, call Annette in our Challenge team on 01189 219 338 or email Challenge@firstdays.net.

 Introducing our first charity partner:  Rockinghorse 

We couldn’t be more proud to welcome our new charity partner: Rockinghorse, one of Sussex’s most loved and inspiring children’s charities.

Every day of the year, this fantastic charity works tirelessly to improve the lives of sick children all over Sussex and 2017 just happens to be the year of their Golden Jubilee.

As one of our charity partners, Rockinghorse will dispatch an army of 40 walkers to join us

on the 13th May, taking on the various routes and walking along the stunning South Downs whilst raising money for this amazing charity. By these supporters taking part in the Just Walk challenge it means Rockinghorse can continue to collectively ensure children’s services across Sussex are the best they possibly can be, now and in the future.

Rockinghorse is in no shortage of ambitious plans for their 50^th year and with fundraising money raised, intend to allocate 10 centres and services in Sussex, each with £50,000 to help them improve, refurbish, and develop their environment for young people benefitting from their work.

Rockinghorse aim to provide a total £500,000 worth of funding to the following centres and organisations:

·         The Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital

·         The Trevor Mann Baby Unit at the Sussex County

·         The Special Care Baby Unit at the Princess Royal Hospital

·         Bluefin Ward in Worthing Hospital

·         Chailey Heritage Foundation

·         Chalkhill Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit

·         Finches Short Breaks Centre

·         The Bungalow

·         The Connor Saunders Foundation

·         Tudor House

You can find out more information on each of the projects by clicking here

Celebrate Rockinghorse’s anniversary year - take on the Just Walk challenge in their name!  

If you would like to make a difference but don’t yet have a chosen charity, why not support the Rockinghorse appeal and take on one of their discounted charity places. To find out more call Hannah on 01273 330044 or email hannah.seltzer@rockinghorse.org.uk 

Top 3 reasons of why spending time outdoors is so important to families

With busy schedules and the stresses of modern day living all too real, it can be hard to find the time to stay connected as a family and spend quality time together. But, fear not, we have the solution to your problem…

So put your mobile phones down, drag the kids away from the TV and sign-up your whole family to the Just Walk challenge on Saturday 13^th May 2017 for a great family day out on the stunning South Downs.

It’s so simple to sign-up; choose your preferred distance of either 10km or 20km if you are doing it with children under the age of 16. Or if your family are all 16 and over, you can also choose from 30km, 40km or the BIG 60km if you are feeling especially brave.

Life can become busy juggling work, household chores, raising a family, commuting and general tiredness. A recent study showed the average British family spends just 34 minutes a day together during the week[1] so we’d like to help families amend this statistic and make a difference.

Sign-up your family today and these are just some of the benefits you can expect to see by spending time together outdoors:

1.  Strengthens family bond – spending time together and indulging in leisure activities as a family is a great way to feel closer to one another both physically and emotionally.
   
2. Improves your child’s development – by playing and spending quality time together not only will you develop the lines of communication between you, you will also be generally helping and guiding your child more, which in turn will lead to an improved school performance.
   
3. Happy and well behaved children – yes its true, the more time spent together will result in happier children both through exercise and the release of endorphins but also from good old fashioned fun, outside in the fresh air.

By taking part in this challenge you’ll get to experience the great outdoors with the ones you love, you can either do this as a personal family challenge or you can decide to raise money for a charity of your family’s choosing.

We’re certain you’ll all enjoy it so much you’ll want to make this an annual family get together. To book your place today, click here.

---

[1] Highland Spring survey

Looking for your next challenge?

2017 Challenge... 

 

JUST WALK is back again and we are very proud to be in our 11th year! 

On the 13th May 2017 you can be involved in a unique challenge event where you can raise money for any charity of your choice - yes that's right - ANY charity you wish to support! 

Or perhaps you fancy taking on a personal challenge? Great, sign up before 31st October and you will be entitled to our Early Bird discounted tickets. 

Simply choose a walking distance to suit your fitness level or goal – 10km, 20km, 30km, 40km or the BIG 60km! There really is something for everyone.

If you are interested in joining in, having a great day, raising funds for a worthy cause, then click here and book you place today!