A woman forced to pull out of a tough midnight charity trek had something to celebrate when her boyfriend proposed to her as he crossed the finish line.

Nikki Quayle and James Bryant, from Rochester, were taking part in Action Medical Research’s gruelling 40-mile South Downs Plod.

The 38-year-old management accountant had to pull out at the 33-mile mark due to an injury but she decided to stay with the support crew until her team-mates finished.

As Mr Bryant, also 38, went over the line he got down on one knee and popped the question.

“I saw James coming towards the finish line so I hobbled towards him with the intention of crossing the line together,” Miss Quayle said.

“I was hugging him but the next thing I knew, he had dropped to one knee.

“Initially I wasn’t sure whether he was collapsing or proposing but happily it was the second one and so of course I said yes!

“James said he had been trying to find the perfect moment to pop the question so I guess he found it – it was a complete surprise.”

The pair were part of the Kicking Ass-phalt team who joined more than 200 people in an overnight endurance challenge to raise money for the charity which has helped pioneer treatments and ways to prevent diseases.

The 40-mile trek starts at Devil’s Dyke, just outside Brighton, at midnight and reaches Beachy Head, outside Eastbourne, the following day.

Action Medical Research has helped beat polio in the UK, develop ultrasound technology, fight meningitis and prevent stillbirths.

The charity is funding research into meningitis, Down’s syndrome, epilepsy and premature birth, as well as some rare and distressing conditions that severely affect children.

Alice Lisher, community fundraiser for the charity, who
organises the event, said: “It’s tough so we’re usually prepared for all scenarios – except
for marriage proposals!

“Like Nikki we weren’t sure for a moment if James just needed a rest so we were even more delighted when we realised he was kneeling down to propose.

“This is the first time it’s happened so we hope they’ll be back after the wedding to tell us all about it.”

To sponsor the team visit action.org.uk/sponsor/kickingassphalt or to sign up for next year’s South Downs Way Plod visit action.org.uk/plod-south-downs-way.