Ramsgate GP centre staff to take on 26 mile challenge for Macmillan cancer charity

The East Cliff Trekkies will hike 26 miles

A group of 11 staff members from the East Cliff GP Practice in Ramsgate are preparing to take on a 26 mile hike along the South Downs in aid of cancer charity Macmillan.

Nurses, doctors and admin staff from the centre have already smashed through their £2,750 justgiving target with a total standing at £3,348.65 and just under four weeks left until the challenge.

The East Cliff Trekkies team – Lorrain Powderham, Samantha Austin, Sophie Dyett, Beki Shorter, Carissa Eldred, Alyson Macpherson, Ashwani Peshen, Rakhi Misra Peshen, Zoe Borrie, Melissa Cooper and Judy Huckstep – have been training over the last couple of months with coastal walks of up to 13 miles a time.

This has been building up stamina ready for the South Coast Mighty Hike from Brighton to Eastbourne, along the South Downs Way, on July 7.

The team’s justgiving statement says: “Macmillan fund research, training and support services. Life with cancer is still life. Right from the moment of diagnosis, through treatment and beyond, Macmillan are a constant source of support, giving energy and inspiration to help those with cancer take back control of their life.

“We want to raise funds to help Macmillan continue to support people and their families whose lives have been affected by cancer.”

Team member Lorrain Powderham added: “We were talking about getting fitter and healthier, as you do in a GP surgery ,as some of us have been or are runners and Ash (Dr Peshen ) was trying to get everyone to get involved in long walks.

“Macmillan South Coast Mighty Hike popped up on Samantha’s facebook page and it went from there.

“We quickly got a team together and started training in April. It fits in quite well with us being in primary care and promoting public health,, lifestyle changes. Walking is free and a good activity to do with friends. We’ve all had a positive benefit in the work place from this and health benefits too”.

The team also raised funds with a garden party yesterday (June 10) which brought in a brilliant £615.

Family and friends of the Trekkies were served sandwiches, savouries, tea and cake  while be entert while being entertained by Warwick the musician. There was also a raffle, face painting for the children, sweetie jar game and a Pimms and Presecco bar.

To sponsor the team go to .https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/eastcliff2018