Besnik's 57 for 57 Mile Charity WalkSupporting the Winch
For over 50 years, the Winch has been helping children and young people across North Camden improve their life chances and realise their potential. The charity believes that strong, connected communities help children thrive, building relationships, bringing people together and creating spaces where everyone feels they belong.
For Besnik, supporting the Winch has been a passion for the past three years. From helping out at its End of Summer Party to lending a hand at its Christmas Disco, he’s already played a part in making a difference.
But this year, Besnik is going the extra mile and putting his walking shoes to good use, taking on a challenge of 57 miles for his 57 years of life! That’s a whole lot of walking, plenty of steps and, no doubt, a few tired legs along the way.
We’ll be sharing updates from Besnik as he works towards his 57-mile target, including his daily mileage, photos and thoughts from the walk. Expect a few highlights from the journey along the way!
If you’d like to support Besnik’s 57-mile challenge, you can find out more and donate using the button below. Every contribution will help the Winch continue its fantastic work supporting children and young people across North Camden.
Day 1 - 12.9 miles down… what have I gotten myself into?
Status: Legs tired, commitment strong.
Best moment: Spotting at the 9 mile mark!
Besnik was back at it for Day 2, clocking up another 9.6 miles, bringing his running total to an impressive 22.5 miles! But while his mind was determined to keep going, his legs were beginning to have other ideas. Still, seeing that 9-mile mark on the screen made it all worthwhile. And a message for everyone cheering him on: “I hope we raise a lot of money, if not, you are all coming with me to do this again!”
That’s Day 2 done, with 22.5 miles behind him and 34.5 miles still to go. Keep going, Besnik!
Day 2 - 9.6 miles down… and my legs are staging a protest!
Status: Powered by charity, fresh air and an unreasonable number of snacks.
Best moment: Finishing the walk!
Besnik kicked off his 57-mile challenge with an impressive 12.9 miles on Day 1, but the reality of what he’d signed up for soon began to sink in! Setting off with optimism, he was soon wondering, “What did I let myself into?” By the time he reached Blackfriars Bridge, his legs had apparently stopped listening to him. And at the finish line, he was dreaming of a well-earned steak dinner!
His verdict on the challenge so far? “If you are thinking of doing this… run away!”
Day 3 - Another 7 miles down… the daily suffering continues!
Status: Taking five minutes to let my legs catch up with my ambitions
Best moment: All the spooky halloween decorations… Boo!
By Day 3, Besnik had clocked up another 7 miles, bringing his running total to an impressive 29.5 miles, more than halfway to his 57-mile target!
The miles were clearly taking their toll, though. Besnik admitted to feeling rather poetic and emotional, mostly about the state of his legs! Hills, stairs and even getting up after sitting down had become potential hazards.
But perhaps the best summary of Day 3 came in Besnik’s message to the marketing team: “The marketing team requested daily updates. Nobody mentioned daily suffering!”
Day 4 - 9 miles down… and my knees are filing a complaint!
Status: Running on determination, caffeine and a suspicious amount of painkiller-free optimism
Best moment: Legs have started a formal grievance procedure!
Besnik was back for another day of walking, but it seems his legs were beginning to make their feelings known! He admitted that management may have approved the walk, but his knees certainly hadn't been consulted.
His training regime also came under scrutiny, revealing that he'd prepared for the challenge by walking to the fridge and back. Perhaps not quite the preparation needed for a 57-mile challenge!
By the finish, Besnik described it as a challenging day for the business - particularly for the two employees known as his legs!
Day 5 - Another 5.4 miles down… now almost crawling!
Status: Powered by a good night’s sleep and complete ignorance of what lay ahead
Best moment: Finding Colin and Ian after work!
Day 5 began with plenty of enthusiasm, helped along by a good night's sleep and perhaps a little ignorance about what was to come! But the walking was soon taking its toll, and even Google Maps wasn't making life easy. Besnik had a few words of wisdom for anyone planning a similar challenge: “Google Maps said it was walkable. Google Maps has a lot to answer for!”
Thankfully, there was some welcome company at the end of the day, as he managed to meet up with Colin and Ian after work.
His message to the marketing team summed things up perfectly: “The good news: we're making progress. The bad news: so are the blisters.”
Day 6 and 7 - 8 miles down… stubborness is carrying me!
Status: motivated by supporters, trusty trainers and the wonderful invention of sitting down
Best moment: Knowing that a Defibrillator is never far from you in Central London, so no need for alarm!
After six days of walking, Besnik was still determined to keep going! With another 8 miles under his belt across Days 6 and 7, he was clearly relying on a healthy dose of stubbornness to keep moving.
There was some welcome moral support along the way, although Besnik joked that his step counter might be delighted with his progress, but his family could soon be facing the job of carrying him home!
He also shared a few important lessons from the challenge so far: “Always plan ahead, wear good shoes and never trust anyone who says, ‘It's just around the corner.”