September 23, 2014 10.00 am This story is over 113 months old

Lincoln MP’s charity walk smashes fundraising target

Challenge complete: Karl McCartney’s Lincoln boundary charity walk has dwarfed its original fundraising target.

MP for Lincoln Karl McCartney and over 40 other ambitious charity fundraisers trudged the boundary of the Lincoln constituency to raise over three times their target.

The team successfully ‘beat the bounds‘ when they completed the gruelling 30-mile walk on Saturday, September 20.

The group had set a target of raising £2,500 through sponsors and donations on their JustGiving page.

With donations still coming in, Karl says they have now received over £8,000.

The group took on the challenge in support of five local charities, St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, Cooke/Connell (The Lincoln Tank Memorial), Motor Neurone Disease Association, One Me and Lincolnshire YMCA.

Karl and the team set off from the Horse and Jockey Pub in Waddington at 5:15am on Saturday morning and had completed the walk by 7pm Saturday evening after 14 hours.

The walk involved river crossings assisted by the Lincoln Sea Cadets and stops along the way to raise awareness of the five causes.

Supported by LIVES and a team made up of local councillors and activists, walkers encouraged each other along the way.

Karl McCartney said: “I am grateful for the support I have received for this event from my fellow walkers, the support staff and corporately through sponsorship as well as all those individuals who kindly donated and sponsored the walkers too.

“All of the five charities who took part in the day received great support from my constituents which is some recognition and testimony to all of the hard work they do in Lincoln and Lincolnshire.

“We raised well over £8,000 in total for the five charities, an absolutely fantastic amount which dwarfs our original target of £2,500.

“Everyone can be very proud of their efforts, especially the number of walkers, including Sara-Jane Mills CEO of St Barnabas Hospice, Rebecca May and Joe Hicks from YMCA, Rob Jones from Bishop Grosseteste University, Yaroslov Pustarnokov from the University of Lincoln, Paul Edwick from Fairy Glam Ltd. and Mrs. McCartney, walking for MNDA, who along with me completed the entire route.

“It was a tough walk and all charity walks end with a hill. The final assent up Station Road in Waddington tested all of our resolve.

“It was a fantastic feeling when we finally completed our challenge and we were very grateful for the warm hospitably we received from The Horse and Jockey in Waddington. I hope I will have the opportunity to repeat this challenge and support other local causes next year, and every year!”