A woman from Selby has announced that she has reached her 2,000-mile goal, having hiked along UK coastlines in aid two causes close to her heart.
Blue Wilson, who challenged herself to reach the milestone, has raised £2,879 for marine conservation charities, Surfers Against Sewage and Sea Changers, after completing her journeys so far. The 49-year-old recently got back from a 176.1 mile commute across the Kent and East Sussex coasts, completing both from Oare Marshes to Portside-by-Sea, just West of Hove on the South Coast.
Blue explained: “I hit my 2,000 mile milestone and rounded the corner from the East and onto the South Coast, from the North Sea to the English Channel. “I met the founders of one of the charities that I am fundraising for. “Co-founders Helen and Rachel from Sea Changers joined me on August 4 for four and a half miles, as did my friend and support that week, Claire.” Blue added that she met another coastal challenger on her trek towing his trailer around the British coast in aid of veterans suffering from PTSD, alongside some of her old friends, who were able to give her some helpful tips. The fundraiser hopes that as each year passes, she will be able to successfully walk the entire UK coastline. She estimates that this will cover a total distance of 19,000 miles and will take her five years in total. Blue said: “I am taking on this challenge in stages due to other commitments, I use my weekends and annual leave off work to complete each stage. “It is entirely self-funded, including all my travel, accommodation, sustenance and kit costs.” Reflecting on her journeys so far, Blue said: “I have seen and experienced some incredible things so far on my journey and made some amazing new connections with fellow coast walkers, all doing it in their own way, for their own reasons and/or fundraising. “I’ve walked in all weathers, including gale force winds, torrential rain, sleet, hale, snow and baking hot sun. “I always aim to walk an average of 20 miles per day.” Blue’s fundraising target currently stands at £4,000 for every year that she takes to complete her ultimate challenge, amounting to a grand total of £20,000 for the charities. To help her reach her goal, please donate to Blue’s Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/team/teambluewilsonwalks.
Blue Wilson on her recent walk along the UK’s South coast. (17-08-240 SU)