York St John students take on Trailwalker challenge this weekend

Trailwalker 2014 marks the eleventh time a group of students, accompanied by senior lecturer in the University’s faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Mark Sullivan, have taken part in the challenge.

Trailwalker was originally started by the Queen’s Gurkha Signals Regiment more than 30 years ago as a training exercise to test soldiers’ stamina and teamwork skills. Trailwalker 2014 takes place on 26 and 27 July and involves teams completing a 100km route across the South Downs in less than 30 hours.

The group will be raising money for Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust.  Over the past ten years, the University had raised more than £46,000 through the challenge.

Mr Sullivan said he continued to take part because of the effect the challenge has on students. He said : “I do it because of the looks on their faces when they finish; it makes them realise what they can do and how they can push themselves, that keeps me coming back.

“Completing Trailwalker is a huge achievement; it takes a lot of mental strength. It also raises all this money for very worthwhile charities.”

Mr Sullivan also thanked Hardgear for sponsoring the minibus.