Fifth Sense Team to Take on the Challenge of the Coniston to Barrow Walk
Nina & Friends C2B 2016
Following the inspirational activities and heroic efforts of Adam Hawkins and Carl Philpott, we have entered a Fifth Sense team to the challenge of a 21mile trek in the Lake District – a great way to raise funds and get active this Spring.
The Coniston to Barrow walk evolved from the Keswick to Barrow team event that has been running since 1967. At that time, a team of US submarine construction experts were employed in the shipyard at Barrow who teased their British colleagues that President John F. Kennedy had stated that “every American should be capable of walking 50 miles a day”.
The challenge was thrown down to the Commanding Officer of HMS Resolution to form a team and compete against the Americans in a walk of approx 50 miles from Keswick to Barrow on 1st April 1967. Although the first person home was a local shipyard worker, the American team won the race. The event has run annually ever since with awards for the fastest man and woman home (an incredible 3hrs 59mins men and 5hours 6mins women) and best performing team (all back in under 6 hours 50mins)! In 2010, the shorter (21mile) Coniston to Barrow walk was introduced as a pilot, intended to encourage younger walkers to take part and hopefully progress to the more challenging walk (which has a minimum age limit) as they got older.
This walk has proved so successful it became an annual walk that runs in parallel with its Keswick counterpart with similar achievement awards for the fastest junior, male, female and team. The event can only be undertaken as a team to raise money for the teams chosen charity or for the overall pot that is distributed across the charities registered with the event. Since 1972 over £3.7million has been raised and 2.5million miles have been walked. Its an emotional day as walkers share their stories as they pass each other by and the atmosphere is one of support and celebration – especially with the free beer reward on completion!
Our Founder and Chair, Duncan Boak and Director of Development and Operations, Nina Hill along with other Fifth Sense members are taking part this year, wearing the Fifth Sense T-Shirts with pride – details on how to support or sponsor the team will be made available soon.
