“We wanted to show we care,” said 15 year old Explorer Scout Suzanne

Within months of joining their Explorer Unit, four Bedfordshire teenagers completed a gruelling 20-mile hike through the Chiltern Hills in the middle of winter to raise almost £450 for the Luton-based Keech Children’s Hospice. The hike was part of the punishing annual Southern 50 challenge organised by Scout Headquarters and involved the Scouts in plotting a course through unknown terrain to reach their destination. The four adventure-seeking Scouts are the first in Bedfordshire to tackle this freezing endurance test.

Young spokesperson Suzi Martin, 15 who led the team said, “We joined Explorers last year and a group of us decided we would go for the big one. The team of four was Tom Lane 16, Lucy Saunders 15, Josh Taylor 15 and myself. We trained for two months over Christmas and the New Year but it still didn’t prepare us for the real thing. The mile long climb out of base camp to the top of the Chilterns was a killer. We reached check point one in a snow storm and thought only another 19 miles to go.

“At about the halfway point we made a mistake and found ourselves in a farm yard with some very surprised cows but we soon got back on track. We reckoned that added a mile to our total.

“Big Tom, Lucy and I collected all the blisters while tough guy Josh came through unscathed. We never found out why. It took us 8 hours 33 minutes to complete the challenge and we came in 13^th out of 19 teams. After a hot meal we just crashed out on the floor in our sleeping bags and didn’t stir until breakfast time. It was just awesome but great fun. It’s definitely on our to do list for next year.

“When we were planning the hike we all felt the effort was worth sponsoring and we chose the Keech Childrens’ Hospice as a local charity to show how much we admired and cared about the important work they do. Nearly 300 relatives and friends in the Ampthill and Flitwick area contributed to the £444.44 we raised.

“None of us had any good idea what the hospice did so it was a real eye opener for us when we were shown round. Two weeks ago I broke my left leg in a sports accident and the staff at the hospital were great. As we walked round it dawned on me that I knew I was going to get well. At the hospice children as young as a few months old are not so lucky. It makes you fell sort of humble.

“What was incredible was the really happy atmosphere. We saw families enjoying a rowdy game of volley ball in the huge indoor swimming pool. And just as we left there was an excited yell from the community TV suite when they saw Didier Drogba score for Chelsea in the cup final.”

Staff nurse Laura Duff who accepted the cheque on behalf of the hospice said, “The Scouts are incredible. We’ve had sponsored walks before but never a long distance hilltop challenge in the snow. It was a wonderful effort and provided much needed support. We have 15 staff at the hospice operating a round the clock service. Just a fraction of our running costs are supported by a government grant so every contribution is welcome. Without the generous help from groups like the Scouts and Guides we would find it difficult to continue.”

Southern 50 organiser Chris Foster from Scout Headquarters said, “What a team. Suzi has aroused her Explorer Scout colleagues with a challenge that has also given support to an awe-inspiring children’s charity. Next year I bet Suzi will galvanise the county’s Explorer Scouts to take part in another Southern 50 hike and raise even more funds for the devoted work of the hospice. Well done Bedfordshire.”

Ten years ago the Princess Royal opened the newly-built children’s hospice. Since then hundreds of patients and their families have benefited from the 24 hour, 365 days a year care that is needed for the terminally ill children they look after. The hospice is set up to provide end-of-life care for children and young people and their families in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes with dedicated staff such as Laura. All the care at the hospice is provided free of charge to the families.

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