Leanne Chambers

From Unpacking to Pavement: Kickstarting September for The Royal Marsden

Tuesday 1st Sep Share

Resting the Feet in Crete, Ahead of the Month of Mileage!

Tuesday 25th Aug My feet are currently living their absolute best life - soaking up the Crete sunshine, cooling off in the pool and enjoying every second of flip-flop season because September is about to ask a lot more of them! In exactly one week, the sandals are getting swapped for trainers as I kick off my challenge to walk at least 50km throughout the month (though my personal target is 100km!) for the this amazing cause! Massive love to everyone who has sponsored me so far - thanks to you, I’ve already raised £230! Share

We did it!

Friday 31st Jul

I am officially floating on cloud nine right now! Over the past few days, we crossed the finish line and hit my £150 fundraising goal! I am honestly so blown away by everyone's kindness and generosity - thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to every single wonderful human (and cat!) who has sponsored me so far. It truly means the absolute world to me.

But guess what? Hitting the target doesn't mean it's time to put my feet up!

Every single penny raised goes straight to the incredible team at The Royal Marsden, doing work that genuinely changes lives. So, we keep going! The more we raise, the bigger the impact we can make!

I can’t wait to get stuck into those kilometres this September. Let's do this! 

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New Shoes, No Blisters: Breaking in My Nikes for the 50k

Monday 27th Jul

My old trainers finally hit their limit last week… After three years and 960 kilometres of walking and running, they’d completely lost their bounce and earned a well-deserved retirement.

To replace them, I headed over to the Nike outlet in Norwich to pick up a new pair ahead of September’s Royal Marsden 50k Challenge. Naturally, they needed a proper test run - a lap around the house wasn't going to cut it.

I laced them up for an 18.6km loop through the South Norfolk countryside. The weather was classic British summer: cloudy and breezy, but ridiculously humid. It turned out to be the perfect test environment to see how they'd handle the distance.

The good news? They held up brilliantly. They stayed comfortable the entire way, gave plenty of support, and, most importantly, left me with zero blisters.

Finding footwear for long distances without having to suffer through a painful break-in period is always a bit of a gamble, so this feels like a genuine win. These Nikes are officially locked in for September!

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Whooaaa! We’re halfway there…

Saturday 25th Jul

I had to double-check the numbers today because I honestly can’t quite believe it - thanks to the incredible generosity of my amazing supporters, I’ve officially reached 50% of my fundraising target for The Royal Marsden!

And to make it even sweeter? It’s still only July!

Reaching this midpoint milestone so early has given me the biggest boost. Knowing you are in my corner makes all the training and preparation feel so worth it.

With half the target already locked in, I am more excited than ever to get stuck into the 50km challenge this coming September. Every step of those 50 kilometers is going to be dedicated to this brilliant cause, and having your backing makes me want to make these walks truly unforgettable.

A massive thank you to each person (and also to one beautiful cat) who has already donated: thank you from the bottom of my heart. It really does mean the world to me, and your support is pure motivation as I keep clocking up the training miles.

I’ll be sharing plenty of progress updates and route sneak peeks as we get closer to the big event in September, so stay tuned!

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My T-Shirt Has Arrived!

Monday 20th Jul

My T-shirt arrived today, which means it’s official! This September, I’ll be walking at least 50km to raise money for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

I’m already diving into the planning stage and mapping out some fantastic local routes - including an extended hike through the gorgeous Blickling Estate and a historic trek following Norwich’s blue plaques.

It’s going to be a rewarding challenge for a truly wonderful cause. I’ll be sharing updates, route details, and progress along the way - stay tuned, and thank you so much for the support!

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The 50km Challenge 2026 is on the horizon…

Monday 13th Jul

What started as a simple 50km challenge last September quickly ran away with me (and my legs!) during the 2025 challenge! It turned into a full-blown Norfolk-meets-London adventure, spanning 13 walks, 127km, and a hunt for hidden stories in lanes, ruins, and riversides.

I began that challenge with a golden-hour stroll in rain-washed air, but soon found myself time-travelling on foot. My routes took me past Roman ruins and Saxon burial grounds, round-towered churches and lost chapels, through tangled woods and along the fading trail of Norwich’s medieval city walls. I discovered flint towers nestling beside busy roads, wounded WWII radar masts, rumours of UFO sightings, and ruined churches said to shelter moonlit angels. Village signs whispered centuries of history, and one memorable 4:30am start under a star-scattered sky made me wonder how many sunrises others have watched over millennia.

London added its own layers to the journey - from the old pleasure gardens of Battersea to the iconic chimneys of the power station, and a zoo where pigs now roam underneath flocks of wild parakeets. Each walk peeled back more than just miles; they revealed the hidden past in places I thought I knew. I may have signed up for the challenge, but I stayed for the stories.

The best part of last year's journey? Thanks to your incredible support, I raised £227 for the Royal Marsden!

Building on that adventure, I am so excited to do it all over again. I’m looking forward to clocking up the kilometres this September, blogging about my walking adventures, and exploring even more of the fascinating history around the Norwich area!

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