Local girl braves storm to walk from Lewes to Hastings to raise funds for Canada Guiding trip
Hastings Bonfire girl Willemina Hinton battled through the high winds and torrential rain of Storm Boelo Saturday to walk from Lewes to Hastings wearing her bonfire costume.
She was accompanied by dad Albert on the two day walk with the first section from Lewes to Eastbourne on Saturday.
Luckily she enjoyed better weather on Sunday with bright sunshine and the wind at her back.
Willemina is a member of Hastings Borough Bonfire Society and South Street Bonfire Society in Lewes. She wore the Lewes bonfire costume for the first day of the walk before dressing in the Hastings bonfire costume on the Sunday.
She was joined for the last leg in Hastings by costumed members of Hastings Bonfire Society. The walk ended at the White Rock Hotel, on the seafront, which is headquarters of the bonfire society.
Willemina is one of only 16 Girl Guides to have been selected to go to a Guides Camp in Canada next year. The 16 Guides and Rangers will be attending Camp Dawn in Newfoundland. They will than have a week to explore Canada.
She needs to raise £3,200 for the trip and the weekend walk is the first fund-raising event toward it.
Willemina said: “I have been part of Girlguiding since I was five when I joined Rainbows. Through Girlguiding I have been given loads of opportunities and this trip is an amazing one.
“Girlguiding has helped me develop in so many ways and a chance like this is one in a lifetime opportunity.”
Her mum Becky said: “When we came up with the grand plan of walking from Lewes to Hastings it was at the end of a very long hot and dry summer. Let’s just say the weather this weekend is looking rather soggy.”
She added: “Thank you to everyone who supported us over the weekend, also for the supportive messages which gave a great morale boost. Thanks to our bonfire buddies who started and ended the walk with us.”
Dad Albert added: “The words of encouragement kept us going through the joy that was Storm Bolelo. I am completely blown away by all the donations toward her trip.
Willemina has set up a Just Giving page and already has already smashed her £640 target with £1,086 pledged. You can support her by going to www.justgiving.com/page/willemina-canada27