Login
Login

Rebecca Birks

Hike for Youth - Jurassic Coast Virtual Challenge

Help me reach my goal of £400

My Activity Tracking

95
mi

My target 95 mi

Hike for Youth - Jurassic Coast Virtual Challenge

I have worked for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award for over seven years and have had the privilege to see first-hand the life changing impact taking part in a DofE programme can have. 

To help ensure that every young person has the opportunity to take part, I'm doing the Hike for Youth - Jurassic Coast Virtual Challenge to raise vital funds for the DofE.  Throughout the month of April I'll be walking 95 miles to help raise money to transform the lives of young people by providing access to The Duke of Edinburgh's Awards to those who would benefit the most.

If you have any funds to spare, please do support me and help me to change the lives of young people across the UK. 

I am going to need all the motivation I can get!

Thank You.

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

£756 + £187.63 GiftAid

My Goal

£400

Select amount to donate

£22
£29
£55
£60
£
Donate

My Updates

95 Miles. 26 Days. Challenge Complete

Sunday 28th Apr

It seemed fitting that my final walk should end at the gates to Windsor Castle, having squeezed the last mile into my lunch break on Friday.

Taking on this challenge in the busiest month of the year was always going to be tough. But it has also been an opportunity to recognise the importance of getting outside, exercising and carving out time for myself.

Some of my walks have been used as an opportunity to catch up with friends and family on the phone – something that it can seem hard to do in “normal” life. Other walks have been a chance to listen to audio books and podcasts, occasionally causing strange looks from passers-by as I laugh out loud. And some have just been for me – no music, no talking, just me and my thoughts, recalibrating after busy days, recharging for what comes next and making plans for the short and long term.

Massive thanks to everyone who has donated to support me. On the days when the rain was lashing down and it was late and I was tired, knowing that so many of you believed in me enough to donate helped to make me get my trainers on.

However, my biggest motivation throughout all of this has been knowing that every pound raised will help ensure that all young people, regardless of their background, will have the opportunity to experience the life-changing impact of a DofE programme.

If you want to help me reach £500 – there’s still a chance to sponsor me!!

Week 3

Friday 26th Apr
82 miles and the sun is finally shining!

After two weeks of walking in the rain, the sun came out for week 3 and it has been such a boost to be able to continue #HikeforYouth in the dry.

Learnings from this week:
1) My legs are feeling it. I didn't think walking would have such an impact, but my muscles are getting tired and sore.
2) Walking has given me great opportunities to call friends and chat on the phone, something that I rarely seem to find time for in "normal" life, and it has been such a treat (huge thanks to everyone who has provided company during my walks).
3) Audio books are only as good as the narrator!

The biggest motivation this week has been watching my sponsorship cross £350 - huge thanks to everyone who has contributed, your support will enable The Duke of Edinburgh's Award to impact the lives of even more young people.

Week 2

Sunday 21st Apr
61 miles down!!

When I first signed up for #HikeforYouth I didn't want to share with anyone that I was doing it in case I failed. Where was I going to find the time in my busiest month of the year to walk for an hour every day? Would anyone sponsor me? How would I explain to people that had sponsored me if I didn't finish?

However, 14 days in, I am 61 miles along the virtual route between Studland and Exmouth and I have raised over £200 for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

Learnings so far:
1) They are called April showers for a reason. My waterproof has had more use in the past two weeks than it has had all year.
2) Fresh air every day has been good for my physical and mental health. I have been sleeping better, my average mile time has decreased, and I am feeling much brighter each morning.
3) Fitting in at least three miles every day has often meant going out late in the evening - walking as a lone female in the dark doesn't always feel safe.

Thanks to everyone who has supported me so far - without your encouragement it would have been far harder to keep putting the trainers on every day.

Week 1

Sunday 7th Apr
Week 1 has been both easier and tougher than I was anticipating. My motivation levels have been high, and I have capitalised on this to get more miles done than I "need" each day - I was hoping to be at 22 miles by this point and I have got 28 done. The downside is that my legs are feeling it more than I was expecting - although I consider myself pretty active, an hour of walking every day is more than I am used to and my legs are starting to complain a little!

It was great to get my first digital postcard to celebrate hitting the 25 mile point. Had I been hiking along the Jurassic Coast rather than trudging round the streets of Bracknell, I would have reached Durdle Door. Instead I have Homebase and housing estates, but hitting my initial fundraising target of £100 has made it all worth it. 

Huge thanks to everyone who has supported me so far - I have doubled my target now to £200 and reaching this would help me find the motivation to keep going for the next three weeks. 

Getting Going!

Thursday 4th Apr
Having known this challenge was coming for a number of weeks before it launched, I put off signing up until 1st April. I never quite felt ready to commit. There was always an excuse, or a nagging doubt at the back of my mind. And then 1st April arrived, and I realised that if I didn't sign up there and then, it was never going to happen. 

April is my busiest month of the year, so adding something else to it felt like I would just be piling on the pressure. But actually, forcing myself to get outside and walking every single day is going to be critical to my mental and physical wellbeing, at a time when it would be so easy to stop looking after myself. 

So here I am, four days and 16 miles in to the challenge, and whilst I wish it would stop raining so that I can have a walk that doesn't require a full outfit change when I get in, I am so far loving every second. 

Thank you to my Sponsors

£106

Anonymous

Well done. This is an extra as an advance from having a smashing time.

£100

David Love

Good luck Rebecca, such a worth cause. You’re a superstar!!! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️

£50

Anna Kempster

What a fantastic and inspiring challenge! Your determination to get through the cold and wet really reflects the DoE principles of determination, resilience and resolve to get the job done! Well done!

£41

Rob Birks

I am so incredibly proud of you x

£30.74

Petert

95 miles, hasn't some guy just run across Africa, go for it RB!!

£30.74

Deborah Dowdall

I am sooo impressed. And glad you are mostly enjoying it.

£30

Derek Birks

Well done, Becca. Love Mum & Dad Birks

£25

Jenny Beck

Fantastic effort so far - keep it up!!

£25

Steve Hill

Brilliant - Well done Rebecca!!

£23.32

Ian & Caroline Taylor

Well done such you’re a superstar

£23.32

Laura Puddefoot-knaggs

Congratulations! How you've managed to fit this is alongside your current hours of work is beyond me. You are a super woman!

£22

Katie And Ben

Congrats! You did it!! 🎉🥳😘 Amazing job! Love Katie and Ben xxx

£21.20

Alex Mcdowell

Great work. Enjoy that final mile

£21.20

Bryon Sparkes

Good Luck. Love Mum and Dad

£21.20

Ravi And Angie

Well done you! Super effort for a worthy cause x

£20

Clare Harris

Where have you found the time!?

£18.02

Jo Clegg

Well done Rebecca! My contribution to helping you reach the £400 goal!

£17

Sally Orange

Oops, my poor maths means I didn't take you over your target, but hopefully this now does! Enjoy todays walk in the knowledge that you have achieved. Xx

£15.90

Rachel Banham

Well done Reb ccs. An amazing achievement.

£15.90

Michael Payne

Really lovely idea. Good luck Becca. 😊

£15.90

Caroline Barbrook

Well done!

£15.90

Chantal Thomas

Good luck Becca - you’re amazing! Love Chantal and Sam. X.

£10.60

Ellie Peabody

Well Done Rebecca!! You smashed it!! Wonder women!!

£10.60

Laura Fenney

Well done. You are amazing 😊 xx

£10

Pembertons

£10

Sally Orange

Pleased to have been able to take you over your target. Congratulations on your achievement so far, not much longer to go now. Keep up the great work!

£10

Rosie Batstone

Amazing effort RB!! I knew you'd smash it - not long to go. Other RB xx

£10

Lindsey

Well done Rebecca! When's the next challenge?! x

£5.30

Emma Burrow

Well done!

Follow us

Follow us