Donation Box Update for Aldbourne: 5th March 2010

1st March 2010 Matt has created a video of the walk.  The boys are still collecting sponsorship money and donations for the 3 very worthy charities. They would like to make it £3000.00 so each charity receives at least £1000.  In the meantime, they are also planning to organise a giant raffle to try to reach their £3000.00 goal!  If you have anything that you would like to donate for the raffle, please can you contact Matt or leave a message at any of the village collection box points.

The Great Ridgeway sponsored Walk 

Don't forget, this adventure is in aid of 3 charities; Children with Leukemia, Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Charlies Charity.  It's not too late to sponsor the boys 100 mile muddy trek camping in the wet, snow, wind, frost and whatever else mother nature throws at them during this Winter season! 
Donation tins are in the Aldbourne Post Office and Co-op plus Aldbourne CAN.  The Fantastic Five age 16-19 group target is to raise £3000.00; £1000.00 for each charity.  Four of the line up are founders of the Aldbourne Youth Council who won a Philip Lawrence Award in 2006.

The line up: James Keen, Jack Matthews, Adam Wise, Matt Gibbs, David Osborne

Keep an eye on the  Facebook page where Matt will try to give short updates via his mobile phone...while the battery lasts!  Below is a brief update as the walk unfolds with some links to the areas that the boys have been hiking to.

Day one Sunday 21st February 2010; departed from Aldbourne 6am: The boys left Ivinghoe Beacon at 10am and hiked through the snow with an average 3 stone weight on their backs from Ivinghoe Beacon almost to Coombe Hill, Wendover.  The team hatched a plan to offload some weight which involved a rather busy taxi driver!
Day two Monday 22nd February 2010: Terribly difficult conditions trying to reach the boys.  The A34 was gridlocked with the M4 not moving very fast either.  2.5hrs later, Nigel found the boys in high spirits, relieved to be able to offload their heavy rucksacks and cut down to minimum supplies. The team then stepped up the pace to make up lost time, covering a difficult stretch through mud and snow to reach their planned destination: Watlington, the smallest town in England according to the boys!  Here, Nigel had left their heavy rucksacks and tents with a very friendly campsite owner right on the Ridgeway.   The boys pitched tents at 6pm.  A Fish and Chip supper lured them 0.5 miles from the camp site and back!
Day Three Tuesday 22nd February 2010: Watlington to Goring and a Youth Hostel in Streetly courtesy of Nigel provided a very warm welcome.  The drying room; full of their wet boots and damp, dirty waterproofs! This stop was totally unplanned but the thought of a warm bed and a hot shower for one night had smiles all round.  The Hot x buns, penguins and snicker bars went down well! The Ridgeway signage has apparently been very good so far...
Day Four Wednesday 23rd February 2010: Streetly to Court Hill Ridgeway Centre  The boys were spoiled by the friendly Youth Hostel staff, they had a full English breakfast and buffet before setting off for Court Hill.  They reported their journey as seeming a little easier for this part of the Ridgeway, although their feet ached and Adam's knees were painful.  Matt and the team managed to persuade the Court Hill staff to let them sleep indoors, have a hot meal and breakfast included for a discounted price and Jacks Dad to pay the bill!  These boys have talent! We caught up with the boys in the evening and spirits were extremely high, they were refreshed, showered and catching up with web updates/football scores! They have plenty of photographs of their journey so far and some interesting videos.  Unsure what to make of the games Matt has invented so far...something about 'what colour is my stone' and a chant called '0797 705 999 and a 1' 
The Court Hill Ridgeway Centre is only a 25 minute drive from Aldbourne with great views and a tea room open to the general public if anyone fancies tea and cake one afternoon.

Day Five Thursday 24th February 2010: Court Hill Ridgeway Centre to Upper Upham The rain has lashed down all day and the downs have seemed very bleak.  The boys are exhausted, wet, cold and muddy but are determined.  Tonight they are sheltering in a barn at Upper Upham in their tents Mike arrived with a welcome KFC. Soup and Hot chocolate were quickly devoured before getting into their sleeping bags. 
The Newbury Weekly News came out to take photographs of a rather wet and muddy crew tonight, with the interview taking place by car light!  The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald have published an article today but have sadly got the charities names wrong.  If you still haven't sponsored the boys, please consider helping them to reach their £3000.00 target.  Collection boxes are in the hairdressers, post office, CAN and Co-op.
In the morning, the team start the last stage of the Ridgeway; across to Chasewoods, down to Ogbourne St George, up to Barbury Castle and then across the downs to Overton Hill.  Don't forget they are live on BBC Radio Wiltshire tomorrow morning.

Day Six Friday 25th February 2010: Upper Upham to Overton Hill; the end of the Ridgeway trail (or beginning for those who start the walk this end of the trail.)Today was very hard due to the weather, the wind was so powerful that at Barbury Castle the clouds were racing and hats were being blown away.  The boys have made it though and are camped in the Bell at West Overton garden.  A hot meal, friendly owner and a warm fire put a smile on everyone's faces, as did the end of the Ridgeway trail! 

Day Seven Saturday 26th February 2010: Homeward Bound; Overton Hill to Aldbourne - Passing through Marlborough High Street. Click on the link for the Marlborough High Street webcam on the BBC website and see if you can spot some lads in pink t-shirts walking through today! 
The team will be walking through Marlborough, onto the old railway line to Ogbourne St George and then up over the hill to Aldbourne passing the Ridgeway, Aldbourne Chase farm (Snap) and Dudmore Lodge along the main road.  Toot your horn if you pass them on route as they will have almost reached their 100 mile goal!  Estimated time of arrival back in Aldbourne around 4pm
All home safe and sound, arrived ahead of schedule 3pm.  Photographs to follow.  Well done boys, a great effort by all of you.  Look forward to hearing how much you managed to raise.  See the LOCAL NEWS page for related press and radio articles.  After a well earned soak in the bath, I think the boys may well be celebrating tonight...