I climbed Steep Hill 50 times for my mum
A university student walked up and down Lincoln's aptly-named Steep Hill 50 times in a day.
Super-fit University of Lincoln student Mark Smith (20) tramped the equivalent of 40 miles to raise cash for cancer care.
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Mark Smith
He undertook the challenge in aid of the hospice which took care of his late mum Sue. She died from cancer last year, aged only 55.
Starting at the arches outside Lincoln Cathedral by the Magna Carta pub in Exchequer Gate and turning round at the Stonebow in Lincoln High Street, Mark undertook the descent and climb 50 times.
Having started and finished in the dark with a celebratory pint yesterday evening.
"I'm sure my mum would be proud although she'd be a bit concerned about my knees," said Mark, a media production student at the University of Lincoln.
"I started at 5am with a bacon sandwich.
"I was doing four ascents and descents an hour, but then got a bit slower and it became more like three.
"I like training anyway and did the Lincoln 10k earlier this year.
"That was quite intense but this is about sheer endurance and is much more of a mental challenge.
"I had a mate start with me at 5am and my sister came over from Nottingham University.
"She and my girlfriend, her friends and my housemates have been good at bringing me sandwiches and drinks.
"I hope to climb in Snowdonia one day so this is obviously good training."
Mark said he hoped to raise up to £400 for St Anne's Hospice in his home town of Newport, Wales.
For the full story see Monday's Lincolnshire Echo.
23 Comments
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by Chris Bonington, Mount |Everest
Wednesday, December 03 2008, 6:23PM
“Give over the lot of ya, don't any of you recognise a nonsensical post full of factual inaccuracies when you see it?
Well done Mark, i hope you raised a lot of money for a very worthwhile cause. I have donated by the way.”
by manx imp, isle of man
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 5:34PM
“Mark, don't worry about comments by the likes of Chris Boringthem - everywhere has one and he's Lincolns.....”
by Kara, Lincoln
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 12:14PM
“Mark, you did an amazing job and i feel proud to call you my boyfriend.
As for the person leaving those comments, I reckon you should seriously re-think your life and morals if you can say things like that to a person simply trying to raise money for a charity.”
by Kimberly, Lincoln
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 12:11PM
“Haha some idiot wrote 'call that a hill? I bet you didn't even need ropes!'
You use ropes to CLIMB a mountain not WALK up a hill. How many people have you seen walking down the street using ropes? That's laughable stupidity. Quit making digs at someone raising money for charity. Especially as you haven't done it yourself.
Well done Mark you did comendibly well and I'm sure everyone at the hospice is very greatful at your efforts!”
by Rav, Lincoln
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 12:05AM
“Inspirational stuff Mark, you did everyone proud. To the guy leaving disrespectful comments: what time of human scum makes fun of a guy doing something for charity, people like you could only dream of having the ethic of Mr Smith, I suggest you go and see someone about your problem or maybe you have and being an utter waste of existence is untreartable.”
by Brant, Lincoln
Monday, December 01 2008, 11:43PM
“Well done. Anything done for charity is worth ten times more than anything done for personal gain. Keep up the good work, your mum would be proud, I am sure!
Brant.”
by Jim Anderson, Lincoln
Monday, December 01 2008, 10:30PM
“Well done Mark. My partner and I recently did a 46 mile sponsored walk along the Viking Way, and we found it very tough. So hats off, I can only imagine how difficult it would have been doing a similar distance over such steep terrain!”
by Matt, Lincoln
Monday, December 01 2008, 10:16PM
“Well done Mark! congratulations on a great achievement! oh and Chris Bonington, you have obviously got too much time on your hands if you are critisising a charity event on the website of a local newspaper! hes climbed up and down a hill 50 times! what have u done?”
by Mountain Coat, Lincoln
Monday, December 01 2008, 9:21PM
“Rah Rah Rah Marky. I once read a book about Sir Edmund Hillary, his achievements pale into insignifance alongside yours. He didn't have to carry a bucket though.”
by Chris Bonington, Mount Everest
Monday, December 01 2008, 9:14PM
“Mountain Goat, get a life eh! I agree though, keep up the good work Mark. If you need a sherpa, i have one in the garage.( It might need a new battery though) By the way, Jam and Goat, i have lived in Lincoln all my life and climb steep hill at least twice a year( probably once on a bus though) and have never felt the need to scrounge off passers by whilst doing it. Even for bovril. Or sheepses.”