TODAY was D-day for Adver reporter Liz Mackley and fitness guru Ronny Terry as they set off on a 24-hour non-stop walk for the 160 Appeal after weeks of intensive training.

The pair left the Adver offices at 8am on the dot today on their way to Wroughton. They are due to head to Royal Wootton Bassett before hotfooting it to Lydiard Park, the Outlet Centre and Park North. At 7.30pm, they are scheduled to reach Kiss Gym for a further 12 hours on the treadmill.

They have so far secured an impressive £1,257 for the Wroughton hospice, thanks to a curry night at Lalbagh which raised no fewer than £502.

Liz, who was in her own words “forced to do the walk”, eventually warmed to the idea and in fact began looking forward to a new challenge.

As the daunting walk neared she said: “As part of my preparations I’ve already collected a little store of goodies, and I will be taking a bar of chocolate with me to nibble on when times get really tough and I want a reward.

“I think one of my biggest concerns will be avoiding boredom and despair in Kiss Gym. At least outside, there are always new things to look at and it feels more of an adventure than a challenge. I am planning to charge up both my phones and download lots of books on my Kindle to keep me occupied, and hopefully there will be some friends and night owls about to talk to me and egg me on in the overnight leg.

“I really just hope the work I have done will be enough.”

This is Liz’s (and arguably Ronny’s) second challenge in aid of the 160 Appeal, after the 25-year-old set out to lose 3st in three months with the personal trainer’s help last summer to be allowed to take on a skydive for Prospect.

To sponsor Liz and Ronny go to www.justgiving.com/24hourwalkfromhell/


Swindon Advertiser: Twitter logo  Follow Liz's tweets from the walk below: