Coast‑to‑coast for a cause: A charitable 195 mile walking challenge

Alan Holloway, from Greenview Hall, has completed a 195 mile Coast to Coast hike across England, raising £710 for Surrey Search and Rescue — with Care UK set to match the donation and double the total to £1,420.

Alan is a longstanding volunteer with Surrey Search and Rescue, and for his charitable challenge, spent 14 consecutive days walking from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay on the east coast. The hike saw him tackle everything from torrential rain to 30 degree heat, with daily distances ranging from eight to 20 miles.

Alan said: “I love hill walking and being in the mountains, so all of my fundraising is based around things I genuinely enjoy doing. The Coast to Coast has always been on my mind, and when I semi-retired earlier this year, I finally had the time to do it.”

Surrey Search and Rescue is a volunteer-run charity that supports police and fire services by locating missing vulnerable people. The team also operates a water rescue unit and maintains several specialist vehicles, which is all funded entirely through donations.

Alan added: “We don’t receive any formal funding. Everything from waterproof jackets and first aid kits to our incident command vehicle and rescue boats comes from donations. Without fundraising, Surrey Search and Rescue simply couldn’t operate.”

Alan has volunteered with Surrey Search and Rescue for eight years and is now a team leader. He said the work is deeply rewarding: “We go out looking for vulnerable people who may not know they’re lost or may not want to be found. I’ve been lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time on several occasions. Helping someone in crisis is incredibly meaningful.”

During his 14-day challenge, Alan faced steep ascents, long days and unpredictable weather.

“On day 12, I had 20 miles to cover and 1,200 metres of ascent,” he said. “The views over the Vale of York were incredible, but the last 10 kilometres were on a bleak moor that just went on and on. I could see the pub at Blakey Ridge from five miles away and it never seemed to get closer!”

Alan’s fundraising has also been supported through Care UK’s matched funding scheme, which matches colleagues’ donations up to £1,000 for UK registered charities.

“The matched funding makes a huge difference,” Alan said. “It means charities like ours receive support they might not otherwise get.”

Alan hopes his story encourages more people to learn about Surrey Search and Rescue and consider volunteering: “Most counties have a team, but many people don’t know they exist. If you enjoy walking and want to help people, contact your local team. It’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.”

After retiring from his Maintenance Manager role earlier this year, Alan now works one day a week at the home, assisting by driving the minibus to take residents out on day trips.

He added: “One of the good things about working here in the home is getting to know the residents, and I love it. Without exception, they are all up for a laugh, and when I talk to them and realise what they've done in their lives…some of them are quite amazing.”

If you want to find out more about the matched funding scheme, click here to be redirected to the Matched Funding page on MyCareUK’s Perks page: https://careukgroup.rewardgateway.co.uk/SmartPage/new_title_2339376_2339376