In November 2024 Suffolk Building Society marked its 175th anniversary. To mark the occasion the Society has challenged our staff to collectively complete 175 good deeds for Suffolk and serve the communities in our glorious county.

An idea is to complete one of 12 sponsored walks between our branch locations, with the overall distance totalling 175 miles. But why complete one walk when you could opt to cover the whole distance?

After being diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021, undergoing surgery and chemotherapy, completing the full 175 miles feels like a great way to celebrate life after the “Big C”. I’m keen to prove to myself that I can take on and complete a challenge that will really push me.

My intention is to complete the distance over the course of 7 (non-consecutive) days during September and early October 2025. Each of the 7 days will require a walk that’s significantly longer than any distance I’ve managed to cover in the last few years. Overall, the full 175 miles will take me through many parts of this beautiful county from Halesworth to Haverhill.

I would really appreciate your help in this challenge whether it be moral support, a few words of encouragement or a donation to a worthy Suffolk charity. For the more adventurous, you’re more than welcome to join me on any part of the walk or wave as I pass.

Any money that I raise will be donated to Emmaus Suffolk. Emmaus is a really worthy charity, working with vulnerable, socially isolated people and those at risk of homelessness across Suffolk. Emmaus Suffolk utilizes a person-centered approach, working with individuals to meet their specific needs and help them build confidence and resilience.

I’ve been training for a few weeks to try to build stamina and strength with a good few lessons being learned on the way. To share a few of the key lessons so far:

1. Walking barefoot on a treadmill is a really bad idea – thankfully the blisters and burns will heal after a week or so!

2. Socks are a very important part of life – far more important that I realised but I’ve discovered that I have a greater interest in them than most other people I know

3. Wearing a full hiking pack whilst walking your (small) dog is not viewed as particularly normal

4. Trainers wear out far too quickly

5. Walking long distances takes an extremely long time

6. The rotating belt on a treadmill provides a very efficient way to exfoliate your legs – and remove far more skin than you’d like to

I hope to share my progress (and any other lessons or insights) as I complete the challenge. If you’d like to hear more, please let me know.