Many congratulations to Biology Teacher, Miss Fiona Bell, who completed the Cancer Research Big Hike on Saturday 3 June, crossing the finish line in 14th place (out of 400 competitors), and raising over £1,200 for the charity in the process.
Miss Bell, who has been training for the walk for the last six months, hiked the 26.5 miles around the beautiful Peak District along river valleys, up and down challenging hills and through villages. Miss Bell explained, “I do a fair amount of general walking and running, but added a long Sunday hike to my routine. We go away to our caravan in Oxfordshire at weekends, so I was able to do some lovely scenic hikes sometimes involving long stretches by the Oxford canal. My longest training hikes were a couple of 18 milers, so I was still nervous about doing the full 26!”
The training paid off, when she completed the course in the speedy time of seven hours and 40 minutes. She said, “I was astonished to do so well – I’d trained well but it was a hilly course so I thought it might take closer to nine hours.”
Thanks to the incredible generosity of friends, family, Bedford School colleagues and parents, Miss Bell has raised almost £1,200 for Cancer Research, a charity that the school community raises money for on a regular basis in memory of all the brave colleagues lost to cancer in recent years.
Miss Bell went on to say, “Cancer Research is a cause very close to my heart as both my parents died from cancer, as well as several of our colleagues. So, I intend to continue to raise money for them. I’ve got my eye on a 100km ultra-hike next year once I’ve had a little rest!”
If you would like to show your support and sponsor Miss Bell for her efforts, you can do so via her Just Giving page here.