Million Step Challenge Week 10. Moving the step challenge goal posts

The past ten days has seen another 159,040 steps added to the grand total that now stands at 1,013,952 and confirms that the million step target has been reached, however the challenge is not due to finish until the Cambridge United v Portsmouth fixture in January so the step target has been increased by another 250,000 steps in the hope that the ten thousand pound target can be reached.

The past 10 days have been very busy with a small walk in the mornings before I head off to work to enable me to get some early steps in the bag!
I took my wife and daughter to visit Wimpole Hall on a cold damp evening to explore the winter wonderland which again helped rack up the steps.

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Local media have been very helpful this week with BBC Radio Cambridgeshire Friday night sports team covering the challenge along with Cambridge 105.

The public walk on Sunday 12th December went really well, I honestly thought that I may be walking the 6 mile round trip from the Abbey Stadium to Kings College and back on my own but how wrong could I have been?

Two Football club Directors, CUFC full time staff, match day staff and supporters all came along to support the walk which would see me hit the target. As I have mentioned this is not just about raising £10,000 it has been about mental health awareness and getting people talking. Well the past 10 weeks has certainly done that.   During the walk somebody spoke to me about the difficulty they had lived with as they had been diagnosed with ARFID (Avoidant, Restrictive, Food, Intake Disorder). As we walked along the banks of the River Cam I listened to some of the effects this disorder has caused the individual, this is another debilitating mental health disorder. The person explained that they had missed dozens of invites to events over a number of years simply because they were unsure of the menu and could include foods that they simply struggle to look at and also unable to even put it in their mouth let alone eat it. I asked this person why they were telling me and their reply was “IT FELT LIKE IT WAS THE RIGHT TIME”.

Million step target reached at the Back of Kings College

I cannot start to imagine what effect this has on people suffering with this disorder who before going out for a meal have to make a decision based on the menu.

As it say’s on the shirt take each day as it comes and try to make small changes to improve your mental health.
We are hoping the SMALL CHANGE will help SHOUT 85258 as we ask supporters attending the Cambridge United v Portsmouth game in January to donate their small change that they have laying about the house, in a jar,  or down the back of your favourite chair every £ counts.

JUST THINK OF IT LIKE THIS?
YOUR DONATION WILL HELP SOMEBODY AND COULD SAVE A LIFE

This week has also seen the donations total increase to £7276.00 leaving £2724.00 to hit the £10,000 target.

Thanks to the following companies and individuals and anonymous donations I am very grateful to you all.
Troy Farthing
Camclad Ltd
Giac , Enzo ,Tony
Chris D
Mark Green
Andy Pickard
Simon Lankester
Angling Friend
Neil Rowe
BBC Cambs Friday Night Sports Team
WVC
Emma, Rob, Ollie & Ben Smith
Anonymous Walkers
Charity walker
Donna & Paul Premier Event catering
Nikki Summers-Morris
 
Again thanks to every single person who has supported this challenge as every penny really does count and as I have previously said your donation will help somebody and could save a life.
Please spread the word
 
Ian Darler B.E.M

Make a donation via the link here