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Friends and former Deal bartenders Stewart Brown and Scott Jackson are taking on a 75 mile challenge to help young adults with disabilities.
Like all charities, Covid 19 has hit Mercury charity of the Year Martha Trust hard.
Most of their fundraising events cancelled in 2020 and the pandemic has caused further disruption in 2021 by halting plans for a drive in cinema day and an overseas Car Challenge due to the uncertainty in Europe.
But Stewart and Scott are still raring to go. The pair will be covering the 75 miles in just 12 hours.
The challenge starts from Dover Castle at 7am on Saturday, May 22.
From there they will cycle 55 miles through St Margaret’s into Kingsdown, through Deal and up to the Viking Ship at Ramsgate. A stop on the way back at Betteshanger Park will complete the 55 miles.
They will then get a lift to Folkestone Leisure Centre where they will swim a mile before walking the 19 miles back from Folkestone, trekking along a coastal route to The Kings Head in Deal where they will celebrate their challenge with a pint and a socially distanced get-together outside.
"I see on a daily basis how much support our residents need..."
This will be a huge challenge for them both as Stewart had a kidney transplant which he donated to his friend Jojo Lawton and Scott has a metal plate in his knee.
Stewart, a pharmacy delivery driver, said: “The idea came about from Scott sending me a text to say he needed something to focus on.
"After my transplant the doctors told me that I needed to stay fit.
"It is very easy to get lazy and stop getting fit without focus and because we supported Martha in the past, we wanted to support again."
The two pals are no stranger to fundraising.
They supported Martha Trust back in 2016 where they completed a walk from Bognor Regis to Deal which raised nearly £400.
The year later Stewart put on a charity football match for Martha between two local pubs, the King's Head and the Walmer Castle.
Scott said: “I really struggled with my mental health through lockdown. I now work at Martha Trust and I see on a daily basis how much support our residents need.
"Working for Martha really gives me a focus to wake up in the morning, knowing I am making a difference in their lives – it has helped me mentally too.
"I have undertaken the John O Groats to Lands End cycling challenge in the past plus done a few walking challenges so we though let’s do both and add in a swim too!”
Fundraising & Events Officer Kerry Banks BEM says, “We are incredibly grateful to Stew and Scott for wanting to undertake another challenge for our guys and girls at Martha Trust. Their dedication to our charity is brilliant! I will be joining them for the last 10 miles of their challenge so if you see us on the way, please give us a wave and we will have donation pots with us too!
"It would be great to see people back outside the King's Head to welcome them home.”
If you would like to sponsor their challenge, please visit their page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/scottstew75
