[IMAGE DESCRIPTION] A stunning view from one of the many peaks of the Pennine Way spotted by the fundraising trio Mike Keel, Andrew White and Noel Hastings.
In 2021 I and my lifelong friend, Mike Whitehouse, walked the Wainwright Coast to Coast to celebrate our 60th birthdays. We ended up raising more than £14,000 towards NF2 research.
In 2023, I put together a new team aiming to beat that amount. Another old schoolfriend from Liverpool, Mike Keel, and Irishman (and honorary north-westerner) Noel Hastings joined me to make up a trio of 60+ year-olds determined not to allow aging limbs to slow down our efforts.
For Noel and I this was deeply personal. My daughter, Rebecca, now 36, was diagnosed with NF2 in 2019. In the same year, Noel’s daughter Hayley, now 35, was diagnosed with Schwannomatosis. Noel and I became friends through this connection. Mike, who I met in junior school in Anfield more than 50 years ago, and a highly experienced walker, joined us out of the goodness of his heart to look after us and guide us. After all, this was the big one…The Pennine Way…!! Stretching 268 miles from Edale in the Derbyshire Peak District to Kirk Yetholm just inside the Scottish Border, the path runs along the Pennine hills – the “backbone of England” – and is generally regarded as one of Britain’s toughest. We three gluttons for punishment aimed to complete the walk in 19 days – not bad for 3 people with an average age of 63.
With walking off trail to accommodation and bunk sites, plus the odd diversion to see some of the natural wonders on the trail, we estimate that we walked more than 280 miles. But that’s not all – the Pennine Way is not flat…! By the end of the walk, we had climbed the equivalent of 1.3 ascents of Mount Everest.
The Pennine Way traverses a diverse range of terrains, including steep ascents, rocky paths, and boggy moorlands. The constant undulations of the trail, combined with the cumulative impact on the body, pose a significant physical challenge. We had to be prepared for strenuous climbs and descents, with our backpacks, pushing our endurance. We planned the trip for nearly a year – and trained for it just as long.
We began our trek on 15th September, 2023. On the first day, from Edale to Torside, a trek of 16.5 miles and 860m of ascent thanks to the delights of Kinder Scout, we risked sunstroke in the punishing heat.
And that was the last time we saw the sun.
From then on it was driving wind and rain, grey skies and at least two named storms. This made things quite challenging, trudging through bogs and very wet moorland. For the most part, we also did it old school, using paper maps and a compass, with our phones in our backpacks. In some of the worst of the weather what kept us going was the thought of why we were doing this – for our daughters and all those affected by this terrible disease.
Still, despite the mostly awful weather, we immersed ourselves in the joys and challenges that make up the Pennine Way experience. From the breathtaking beauty of the Pennines to the physical and mental demands of the journey, walking the Pennine Way is a transformative adventure that offers a unique blend of euphoria and adversity. In his book “Walking Home” Poet Laureate Simon Armitage put this beautifully (as one might expect) after walking the Pennine Way himself in 2010:
“…to embark on the walk is to surrender to its lore and to submit to its logic, and to take up a challenge against the self.”
The Pennine Way showcases some of the most breathtaking scenery in the United Kingdom. The beauty of the landscape is ever-changing, with each day bringing some new visual spectacle. From the rugged beauty of Kinder Scout, the curving limestone amphitheatre of Malham Cove, the awe-inspiring scale of High Cup Nick carved deep into the Pennines, and the pure physical challenge of Pen-y-Ghent and Cross Fell, the trail provides a feast for the eyes and a balm for the soul.
The trail also took us through historic towns and villages, allowing us to engage with local communities and experience the warmth of northern hospitality. We arrived armed with postcards to give to passers-by in these welcoming places, and on the trail itself, telling the world about NF2 and Schwannomatosis: and so it was that people we only met for a few minutes made a donation to our cause. With some people, we struck up deeper friendships and even deeper conversations, again creating awareness as well as incredibly generous donations.
Walking the Pennine Way is a multifaceted adventure that blends the joys of natural beauty, cultural exploration, and personal achievement with the challenges of unpredictable weather, physically demanding terrain, isolation, and logistical intricacies. And then completing the trail at our age is quite an achievement. The sheer length and challenging terrain of the trail make it a test of endurance and determination. The sense of accomplishment we experienced when reaching the endpoint at Kirk Yetholm made the whole thing worthwhile and banished any negative thoughts from our minds. We cheerfully revelled in the knowledge that we had conquered one of the most demanding long-distance trails in the world, fostering a deep sense of self-discovery and resilience.
In the end, we raised more than £19,000 thanks to the amazing generosity of families, friends and strangers – as well as our very generous and supportive corporate sponsors. All three of us agreed that it had been well worth it – and also that we would never do it again…!
Having attempted the Coast to Coast two years previously, I personally found the Pennine Way very, very challenging. But I am content in the knowledge that I am not alone in this. So the last word should be left to the grand master himself, Alfred Wainwright, comparing the Pennine Way to the Coast to Coast. He wrote:
“I finished the Pennine Way with relief, the Coast to Coast walk with regret. That’s the difference.”
[IMAGE DESCRIPTION] Mike Keel, Noel Hastings and Andy White, at the Border Hotel that marks the FINISH LINE!
–Andy White
February 2024
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This blog has been created as a way to share real stories, ideas, positivity and even sprinkle in some science. Everyone is welcome here and warmly encouraged to join us in contributing to our community through this blog. If you would like to add anything (anything at all!) then please contact Grace Gregory, at grace@nf2biosolutions.org or Joanne Ward (NF2 BioSolutions UK and Europe’s COO) at joanne@nf2bisolutions.org and we can pop it up on our blog. Watch this space and please join in helping us all connect and share with one another!
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