‘This money will make such a huge difference, my dad would be so proud!” Twenty-eight-mile charity trek from Sutton Bridge to Hunstanton quadruples fundraising target

Three charity trekkers have thanked the local community for their ‘overwhelming’ support after their 28-mile walk quadrupled their initial fundraising target.

Andrea Graveling, Hailey Muller and Rachael Bowman had hoped to raise £500 from their slog from Sutton Bridge to Hunstanton this summer.

But generous donations kept on rolling in, with the final target raised for Prostate Cancer UK standing at £2,015.

“I'd just like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported myself, Hailey and Rachael,” said Andrea, who took on the challenge in memory of her dad Trevor, who sadly passed away earlier this year after suffering with the illness.

“We didn't expect to raise this amount of money at all. Our target was £500 which we would have been happy just reaching, so to raise over £2,000 is absolutely amazing and overwhelming.”

The emotional journey began at Trevor’s home in Sutton Bridge and finishing at Henry’s fish restaurant.

Andrea had promised to take her dad for a slap up meal of fish and chips at the Norfolk seaside resort, but his health and poor weather meant the trip never happened.

However, after reading about the quest, staff at Henry’s offered the fundraisers free food when they completed their journey, even staying open late to honour the promise.

“This money will make such a huge difference to prostate cancer,” added Andrea, who lives in Holbeach but works at King’s Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital with Hailey and Rachael.

“My dad would be watching down so proud and amazed at what we have achieved in his memory.

“So to every single person who believed in us and donated - thank you so much.

“I'd just like to say thank you to Hailey and Rachael. There's not many friends who would walk all that way.

“You both supported me, my family and dad from the day he was diagnosed with prostate cancer you both have been amazing and he thought the world of you both as much as I do.

“From myself and all the family thank you. You've both helped to make a difference. This wasn't just a memory to my dad it was to raise awareness to prostate cancer and I think we all have definitely done that.”