Ely duo raise almost �4,000 for EACH

ELY friends Steve Butcher and Darren Tofts raised almost �4,000 for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) after completing a gruelling 100km walk in less than 24 hours.

Steve, 58, and Darren, 40, completed the Thames Path Challenge, a 100km walk along the River Thames starting in Putney and finishing at Henley on Thames, in September. Together they raised a whopping �3,890 for EACH.

Steve, a transport manager for Wellgrain in Ely, admits he is an unlikely athlete, but said he was motivated because the event was achievable. Steve was delighted to complete the walk in 23hrs 20mins.

Steve said: “The atmosphere was great with over 400 people actually completing the 100km. My feet were not a pretty sight at the end and I did have a few days off from the gym until I recovered.”

Darren, who works at Potter Group Logistics, completed the walk in 23hrs 07mins said the sense of achievement from completing the walk and raising money for EACH, who his company also support, is amazing and an experience he shall never forget.

Karen Newton, EACH Cambridgeshire Fundraiser, said: “We’re delighted Steve and Darren chose to support EACH while taking part is this exciting new event. It was a pleasure to accept their cheque and to show them around the hospice so that they can see how their money will help.”