#BenHannah3530-We Did It!

I am thrilled to have completed stage 2 of my challenge, and so completing the whole of my epic #BenHannah3530 challenge.

Stage 2 of my #BenHannah3530 challenge involved walking 35 lengths of my garden in very small stages, with my four-wheeled walker, splints and the support of two people, in the couple of months up to what would have been my brother, Ben’s 35th Birthday on 25th November 2021.

I started stage 2 of my challenge at the end of August, walking my first length on holiday and in a summer dress! Summer then ended and Autumn arrived, as I persisted on with my 33 lengths in my back garden. The leaves started to fall of the trees, and the layers of clothing required increased quickly! 

I have found that trying to takes some steps outside is increasingly harder in the cold weather, than in the warm or milder weather. It is like my muscles and joints seize up, as well as it causing more spasms. Due to this I think stage 1 of my challenge tested me more, as in January to March the weather was much harsher. Having said that the increase in lengths this time certainly stretched me!

The Final Length of #BenHannah3530

You may have noticed I said 33 lengths in my back garden, this is because I completed the first one on holiday, and I was delighted to finish with the final length by Ben’s tree. I completed the last length on Ben’s 35th birthday, walking the equivalent distance of a length of the garden up to Ben’s tree. I can only walk on flat, level, surfaces, not on grass, or slopes. Ben’s tree is up a bit of a slope/ small hill, on grass. So, I walked along the tarmac path, finishing where Ben’s tree was parallel to, and then sat in my powerchair and drove up to his tree.

Walking the 35th length up to Ben’s tree was a huge achievement, as it is only the third time I have walked somewhere outside other than the path in our garden, which is challenging enough.

Mum and Dad supported me physically, and were great sports wearing a charity t-shirt each. This worked out well, being that there were three charities we were supporting and so three t-shirts to wear! They also had the challenge of holding a silver three and a five number balloon.

We recorded snippets of my walk as I previously have done, because otherwise the video would be like 10 minutes just for me walking a few metres! (You can watch the video below.) I really struggled with the tree roots, they were certainly testing. I was extremely relieved there was only about two to go over. To others they would not notice them, but for me they were very difficult. The very slight camber towards the lake kept throwing me off balance, again something others probably would not even notice. I think I could be used as a spirit level! My body seems to know even when something is the tiniest bit uneven.

By the time I had got to the finish line I was exhausted. I couldn’t even push my frame through the finish line- I wasn’t strong enough. There was me with my PA (my camera man) worrying we had used enough sticky tape for the finish line to stay up; I think I needed to worry about not using too much I could actually get through! 

Walking the final length up to Ben’s tree felt like a fitting finale to my #BenHannah3530 challenge. The perfect way to round off my fundraising challenge and tribute to Ben.

~Hannah

I am really proud, we did it! We completed #BenHannah3530 challenge and I have gained a sense of achievement. I feel I have kept Ben’s memory alive. I feel I have achieved it with Ben, and we have made a difference raising a lot of money for charities.

My Just Giving Page and Thank You

Due to Virgin Money Giving closing I transferred on to Just Giving. Just giving will not let you raise money for several charities on one page, so you have to have a team page to connect your separate pages for each charity.

Our new just giving team page is: https://www.justgiving.com/team/benhannah3530

I am thrilled to say that so far we have raised £6454. I would love to get that to £6500. Then it would be like £3000 raised for my 30th birthday, and £3500 raised for Ben’s 35th birthday. So hopefully I can raise another £46.

I am so very grateful to everyone who has supported Ben and me in our challenge through sponsorship, completing their own 35 or 30 challenges, raising money and more. Thank you all so much. It really means a lot.

Recently it was great to see our cousin,  Matt complete his challenge of 30 cycles up Mount Tibidabo, Barcelona. An incredible achievement.

I find it upsetting that I can do things with my brother, Ben anymore and share experiences. This felt like a challenge we were doing together. He was walking with me every step of the way, and together we succeeded.

Hannah x

You might like to read: #BenHannah3530 and #BenHannah3530-Stage 1 Complete