Interesting report on a 69 year old woman who is doing the End to End for charity.So far she has collided with a road sign in the center of Okehampton which left her with facial injuries,lost a boot and in a bog on Dartmoor and had to be jet washed down by a farmer,and tripped over her bootlaces on the Cotswold Way and suffered further facial injuries.She has also been battered by snow storms and high winds.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-17747655

Although I haven't read it all yet her blog is well worth reading. The photo of her boots are something else! See the blog at:-

http://www.marionsmith.biz/

Thanks for the link to Marion's blog. It was indeed well worth reading. I hope she has no more major mishaps along her route. Who knows we may end up meeting her on our walks on the West Highland Way and Great Glen Way. I'll keep my eyes open for her.

Looks like she is having a great time.
However I do hate it when people say they are doing things like this, and other exploits for charity. They are not, they are doing it for themselves.
When I regularly walked with a walking partner and were doing an LDP we would often go round with a sponsorship form and raise money for a local charity or needy person. We have also raised money for Cancer charities by doing two National 3 Peaks Challenges.
We have always said we are doing these things anyway so we may as well raise some funds if we can, while we are at it.
We have never claimed to have been doing these things for charity, but simply raising funds WHILE we do them, there is a difference.
Dave.

People I meet whilst walking LDPs always seem amazed when they ask if I am being sponsored and I say no, I am doing it for myself as I enjoy it. I must admit some of them must think I am mad especially when walking the 630 miles SWCP when it was pouring with rain towards the end. However a lot do say I would love to do that, I wonder if they ever think more about it and try.

'They are not, they are doing it for themselves'

Whoa... Come on Dave... like the guy yesterday in the London Marathon carrying 'Blackpool Tower'. Hard to imagine doing something like that purely to satisfy your own ego..? No I think some people do set out with the view of raising funds and not always just for their own satisfaction...

Not talking about everyone Mick, as some do put themselves through what are extreme challenges for them, in ther aid of good causes.
I'm taking about those that are going to do something anyway, becuase it's what they enjoy doing, whether its a long walk, bungee jump or whatever, and then make out that the reason they are doing it is for charity. Those, that if they couldn't raise a penny would still go ahead and do what they planned, because the charity thing was just an addon.
Not saying it's bad or anything as obviously any funds raised and going to good causes has to be applauded.
My Munro baggin partner was in the local paper last year after he raised charity funds following his ascent of Mont Blanc.
However he was careful not to claim he had done it for charity but thought that as he was doing it anyway it might be a good idea to try and raise some money for 'Help for Heroes'.
Some of our club members ran the London Marathon and came round beforehand with their sponsorship forms. Not one of them were doing it for charity, they were doing it for themselves and raising donation in the process.
This lady doing the end to end, is doing the same. I mean good on her, she's raising funds while doing what she enjoys.
It's just that common phrase "doing it for charity" that gets me, in those cases when that is clearly not the motivating factor.
Dave.

I think in Marion's case it is more of a time for reflection.Many years ago I walked the last section of the Pennine Way with a young lad who was trying to raise money for cancer research.The previous year his dad had died from cancer so he was determined to raise some money to help further research.His feet were so swollen at Bryness that it took him half an hour to put his boots on and when we got to the top of Bryness Hill it was obvious he wasn't going to be walking 28 miles.I told him his best chance was to do the rest of the walk in bare feet and that is what he did without a murmur of self pity.If it wasn't for the fact he was walking for charity I doubt if he would have found the strength to bear such pain.

Certainly, things close to your heart can spur you on when the going gets tough.
Perhaps 'hate' was a big strong a word to use, maybe 'I wish they wouldn't use that phrase' would be more appropriatte.
The point I was meaning, is, in those cases where if you took away the fund raising element, they were still going to do whatever. Then in those cases, they were doing it for themselves, the fundraising being secondary, so they shouldn't claim to be doing it for charity as though that was their main concern.
Just my opinion of course.
Dave.

I too wouldn't ask for sponsorship for doing something I enjoy, like walking hundreds of miles.

IF, however, I were to try giving up beer and whisky for reasons other than Doctor's Orders, or attempting to run a marathon, I'd invite people to encourage me by donating to a good cause on a "per mile" or "per day" basis. Thus when I felt like giving in I would try harder, so that the good cause would benefit.

I might give up posting my sententious tosh on this forum if anyone offered sponsorship. Any offers????????????