Colin and Gary trek coast to coast across England on Alfred Wainwright's route to raise funds for Prostate Cancer Research, The Poppy Appeal and Harbour House Portavogie

A Co Down adventurer has decided to tone down his expeditions now that he has hit 63 - with a 192 mile saunter across England for charity.
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By Philip Bradfield
Published 18th May 2023, 07:26 BST
Updated 18th May 2023, 07:35 BST

Colin Ward from Dromore is doing the expedition along with his lifelong adventuring pal Gary Alcock from Bangor - who is also 63.

One taste of what the crazy duo have done in the past is the Marathon De Sables in 2005 - a mere six marathons in six days across the Sahara Desert.

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Then there was the 1997 Discovery Channel Eco Challenge in Australia, which saw Colin cover 300 miles using rock climbing and descending disciplines, extreme mountain biking, canoeing, sea kayaking, and running.

From left: Bobby Gillespie (case worker); Anne Marie and Rab (Harbour House); Colin Ward, along with David Blair and Emma Ward (Dromore RBL); Lynn Palmer (Poppy Appeal); and Gillian (Cancer Focus). C2320505From left: Bobby Gillespie (case worker); Anne Marie and Rab (Harbour House); Colin Ward, along with David Blair and Emma Ward (Dromore RBL); Lynn Palmer (Poppy Appeal); and Gillian (Cancer Focus). C2320505
From left: Bobby Gillespie (case worker); Anne Marie and Rab (Harbour House); Colin Ward, along with David Blair and Emma Ward (Dromore RBL); Lynn Palmer (Poppy Appeal); and Gillian (Cancer Focus). C2320505

His pal Gary has also trekked the 500 mile Camino Way.

"The pair of us have trained together on various adventures throughout our life. This is just another one on the list," he told the News Letter.

But now that they have hit 63 they have decided to do something a little more pedestrian.

Starting on 22 May, they are hiking 192 miles across England in 13 days from the west coast to the east coast following the route of trekker Alfred Wainwright.

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The route from west to east across northern England (the rough outline of the Scottish border is near the top of the image)The route from west to east across northern England (the rough outline of the Scottish border is near the top of the image)
The route from west to east across northern England (the rough outline of the Scottish border is near the top of the image)

They will start at St Bees on the Cumbrian Coast, hike through the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and Yorkshire Moors and finish at Robin Hoods Bay on the East Yorkshire Coast.

The hike will be around 15 miles per day - with the added twist that they are wild camping most of the way - carrying a 20kg rucksack each.

However they hope to find a B&B every third day or so to rest their bones and recharge their phones.

“There is nothing better than going away in the middle of some mountain range somewhere and just looking around you and being thankful that you have the health to do it,” Colin said. “That is why were are raising funds for Prostate Cancer Research, The Poppy Appeal and Harbour House in Portavogie.

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Gary Alcock from Bangor and Colin Ward from Dromore, both 63, are trekking 192 miles coast to coast across England to raise money for charity.Gary Alcock from Bangor and Colin Ward from Dromore, both 63, are trekking 192 miles coast to coast across England to raise money for charity.
Gary Alcock from Bangor and Colin Ward from Dromore, both 63, are trekking 192 miles coast to coast across England to raise money for charity.

"I lost a couple of mates through prostate cancer, I've seen the good work of the Royal British Legion for service members and their families, and Harbour House in Portavogie takes homeless veterans off the streets.”

Donations can be made at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/colins-coast-to-coast-charity-constitutional-1

Related topics:England