Horsham Lion’s 250 mile challenge, from West Wittering to Sheerness

Saturday saw Horsham Lion Tom Osborne complete a 250 mile walk along the coastline of Sussex and Kent, from West Wittering to Sheerness.
Sid Morris, from Swale Lions, with Horsham Lions Tom Osborne, Clare Wilson and Andy SpriggsSid Morris, from Swale Lions, with Horsham Lions Tom Osborne, Clare Wilson and Andy Spriggs
Sid Morris, from Swale Lions, with Horsham Lions Tom Osborne, Clare Wilson and Andy Spriggs

Tom tackled the trek in stages, returning to the coast to resume the journey whenever he could, walking for the West Sussex North Branch of Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).

He crossed the finish line at 3.52pm on June 8, pushing friend and fellow Lion Andy Spriggs in his wheel chair for the last mile. The objective was to raise at least £1,500 for the branch, and to celebrate the 50 years of Horsham Lions’ service to the community.

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One of the many highlights was to walk across The Seven Sisters and over Beachey Head in a single day.

During that time Tom had experienced the wild beauty of the Kent coast, walking along river estuaries and making many new friends along the way. Tom said: “By far the hardest leg was the two day leg of 17.5 miles from Deal to Broadstairs, which required going inland to Sandwich to find a crossing point and 19.5 miles the following day from Broadstairs to Herne Bay. The weather has been largely kind to us.”

Supported by seven Lions from West Sussex clubs, Tom left The Old House at Home pub, West Wittering, on September 2. By the end of October Tom had reached Rye Harbour. On April 13 Tom restarted his walk at Camber Sands, the otherside of Rye Harbour, but due to the distance from home he walked over a complete weekend, with the aid of Lions clubs in East Sussex and Kent, who not only escorted him on his walks but also provided him with accommodation for the night. By June 2, four weekends later, Tom had reached Sittingbourne on the north Kent Coast.

Donations to: www.justgiving.com/Lion-Toms-Walk

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