Ten months of training later and six stone lighter, Jeanette Reid, co-owner of The Queens Arms in Corton Denham, Somerset, is set to embark upon a challenge of epic proportions in aid of the NSPCC, travelling to Beijing this month to complete a 76km hike along the Beijing province section of the Great Wall of China. With the added issues of vertigo and a nut allergy to tackle along the way, Jeanette will be overcoming significant personal and physical obstacles during her seven day expedition.
Inspired by the stunning countryside walks surrounding The Queens Arms pub, located just a few miles from the historic market town of Sherborne in Dorset, and a desire to get fit before a significant birthday, Jeanette was presented with the perfect opportunity to take her rambling one step further while at a Weight Watchers meeting in January. Jeanette chose to support the NSPCC during her Charity Challenge-organised trek and has since raised over £5,000 for the children’s charity, a staggering 118% above her original target.
Faced with the prospect of six to eight hours per day on foot, covering between 10km and 22km depending on the gradient of the Great Wall that day, Jeanette resolved to make the most of the scenic countryside walking routes around The Queens Arms. Four such routes have since been mapped out by Jeanette along with her husband and co-owner, Gordon Reid, now giving their guests a choice of length, terrain and difficulty levels, once they have been inspired by the breath-taking country views from their windows.
Packing light will be essential on Jeanette’s trip, so with limited room for home comforts she has had to choose wisely; The Queens Arms’ homemade jams will provide a welcome taste of home each morning, along with the pub’s homemade nut-free granola and one of head chef, Ben Abercrombie’s trademark pork pies for the journey.
Jeanette explains; “The support I’ve received from our diners and guests has been overwhelming and I’m delighted to have raised so much money for a cause so close to my heart. All the quiz nights, raffles, coffee mornings and auctions have paid off and now only the final challenge awaits in Beijing! I’ve been walking at least 15,000 steps per day, so feel in great shape to take on the Great Wall, and although my vertigo and nut allergy won’t make life easy for me in a country where peanut oil is used in so many dishes, these challenges pale into insignificance when you consider the hardships that the children supported by the NSPCC are confronted with.”
Those who would like to sponsor Jeanette for her trek along the Great Wall of China can donate by visiting www.justgiving.com/Jeanette-Reid3.