By Jacob White
A digital designer for a Crowborough-based bathroom products manufacturer is preparing to take on a gruelling 57km walk to raise money for charity in memory of his late mother.
Chris Hill, 39, is in the final stages of his training for the South Coast Ultra Challenge 2025 which takes place across the weekend of Saturday, September 6 and Sunday, September 7.
The event will see Chris walk 57km, just under 35 and a half miles, will begin just outside of Eastbourne following the South Downs Way, passing Cuckmere Haven before reaching Hove.
Every step Chris takes will see him raise much needed funds for Eastbourne-based charity St. Wilfrid’s Hospice which gave end of life care to his mother Lynn who passed away last year.
Speaking about the importance of the St. Wilfrid’s Hospice, Chris said: “My mother sadly passed away in October 2024 after a year-long battle with cancer. As her condition worsened it became clear that she needed end of life care, and this is where St. Wilfrid’s Hospice came in to care for her several times a day in the few weeks prior to her passing.’
“Not only did they offer exceptional care for my mother at home to make her as comfortable and pain free as possible, but their compassionate support made an unimaginable situation slightly more bearable for my father and I. St. Wilfrid’s Hospice relies on donations from the public so that care can be provided to those with a life-limiting diagnosis” he added.
St Wilfrid’s Hospice provides support for people with any life-limiting illness towards the end of their life, as well as their families and carers, at the hospice or the patient’s home.
Although, partly funded by the NHS, around 70% of the charity’s funding is from donations from the local community, often as part of fundraisers to ensure care is free of charge.
Chris who works for Imex Ceramics UK based at Sybron Way admits the challenge ahead of him is novel to him and says prior to the training he had not undertaken serious walking.
Now, with his walking boots and backpack firmly on, he says: “I am completely throwing myself in at the deep end, but that’s what makes it more challenging and fun. I have loved every minute of training – it has generally gone well apart from a few blisters and muscle aches along the way, which I have learnt how to manage, the body has held up well.”
Speaking ahead of the charity fundraiser as his training reaches its end, Chris adds: “If it was easy, it wouldn’t be a challenge. If I could finish somewhere between 13 and 15 hours that would be good! I wanted something that will provide a great sense of achievement when I have completed it, and this challenge certainly ticks all of those boxes.”
To read more about Chris’ fundraising journey, and to donate to his fundraising efforts for St. Wilfrid’s Hospice, visit http://www.justgiving.com/page/chris-hill-44