South Downs Walk

Here’s a startling statistic. Someone has a heart attack in the UK every two minutes. It’s Help a Heart Week and the local British Heart Foundation are organising a walk along the South Downs Way to raise money and awareness for the fight against heart disease in the UK.

The walk takes you through a section of the South Downs Way, the 80-mile route across the hills, which is the longest continuous stretch of public bridleway in the UK, a meandering ancient droveway route following the natural contours of the hills. Today’s walk finishes at Alfriston Memorial Hall and there are four different start points for people who want to walk different distances. The most energetic participants, who feel up to a 21-mile hike, are to meet at Clayton Windmills at 8-9am; 15-milers congregate at Falmer Swan at 8.30-9.30pm; 8-milers are meet at Itford Farm near the new bridge at 10-12 and those who only fancy a five-mile hike at Firle Beacon between 11 and 1pm. Dogs are welcome (bring a lead) as are children (no need). There will be checkpoints with water available; participants will be brought back to the starting point after the race, which must finish by six. If you want to register on the day you can; if you want a sponsorship form to help raise money, use the contact details below. It’s a good cause, a fact highlighted by a second startling statistic: one of two heart-attack victims doesn’t survive. AG