Sunday the 15th July dawned misty and warm, as so many had already done previously in the seemingly endless heatwave. The milky sun blinked sleepily over the already road weary pack of adventurers. This most auspicous sporting day would see the final of the Football World Cup and the Wimbledon’s Men’s Final, but neither of these would touch the exploits of our heroes.

Rarely has the saying ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’ been so apt as our champions rallied in Eccleshall High Street at a bleary eyed 04:45am, ready perhaps not for a journey of a thousand miles, but certainly for the 26 mile marathon walk to Nantwich that awaited them.

“Who are these early morning kings of the road?” I hear you ask, and maybe even “Why on EARTH would anyone be up at 0445 to walk from Eccleshall to Nantwich on a Sunday when you could quite easily leave at 1pm in a car and get there at roughly the same time, having enjoyed a lie in, several croissants, and a decent coffee?”

The who is easy, the James Du Pavey, Eccleshall team banded together to take on this challenge, but, as with so much in life, the really interesting part lies in the ‘why’. Why on earth did they choose to spend the greatest sporting Sunday of the summer, hot, sweaty, dusty, blistered and exhausted rather than enjoying a cold beer or Pimm’s and a barbeque, like all normal sport’s fans?

James Du Pavey Independent Estate Agents pledged to make The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice their chosen charity. You may have seen the striking ‘rainbow charity boards’ which show that when that house sells a total of £100 will go to the Donna Louise. This is just one of their many initiatives with this walk being one of the others.

When asked James Du Pavey said ‘We’re so grateful for the wonderful work the Donna Louise does for sick children and their families in our area, this walk really was a huge challenge for the team with blood sweat and tears shed. The Donna Louise really is a lifeline to so many. We feel humbled to raise money for this amazing place. The aim of today’s walk was to raise £1000, I was amazed by the generosity of our friend’s and family when we hit that before we even set off. the total currenty stands at nearly £2000 including gift aid!’.

He added ‘Although raising money is the main aim, it’s not just about that. Getting up this early and putting ourselves through a literal marathon is a small reminder of what so many families go though on a daily basis, just to care for their loved ones. I’m totally shattered but I know I will have a good night’s sleep and a rest tomorrow, that’s just not the case for these families and that’s why the Donna Louise is so important, it can step in and let them have that space to rest and recouperate, amongst all the other fabulous services it offers. I just hope people see what we’ve done today and feel inspired to give what they can, or fundraise themselves’.