More than 700 people took to the countryside for the annual Ribbon Walk event, organised by the Breast Cancer Care charity.

The morning kicked off in energetic style with Green Goddess Diana Moran, who led a workout session to get everyone warmed up for the day.

After stretching those muscles, the walkers set off from Petworth House, winding their way around the picturesque surroundings, through pleasant woodland, over the River Rother, past Cowdray Ruins and through the pretty villages of Lodsworth and Easebourne under glorious sunshine.

Plenty of water and bananas kept everyone's energy up while family and friends, members of the public and marshals cheered all the walkers on to the finishing line where they received a medal. Afterwards the tired trekkers enjoyed a much-needed leg massage and a barbecue in the marquee.

Among the eager walkers was the Observer team, made up of reporters Clare Hawkin, Lewis Brown and Greg Miles, and magazine editors Sue Gilson and Clare Wallace, who all completed the 20-mile route.

Sue said: "This was a long, long way with more than seven hours of solid walking, but it was an absolutely magical day of amazing views, great team spirit, fantastic organisation, lunch at Cowdray Ruins and lovely lakes to dip weary toes in.

"We felt a real sense of achievement as we were enjoying our blissful
post-walk massages!"

Lewis Brown, who had never been on a sponsored walk before, said: "The prospect of walking 20 miles for most of the day under the sun never seemed all that appealing, but I am so, so pleased I took part in the Ribbon Walk.

"Everyone was in very good spirits and the scenes along the walk were fantastic.

"I particularly enjoyed the Cowdray Ruins rest point. The atmosphere was brilliant when our team got to the finish line and I will most definitely be taking part next year."

Clare Hawkin said: "I did the Everest base camp trek last year, but this was many more miles in one go. The first 15 miles were fine, but after that it really started to feel in my legs.

"We were all really determined to get to the end, and we were so pleased to be able to take part in such a worthwhile event. The route was very pretty and varied and the marshals and organisation were fantastic.

"The last three miles were definitely the hardest part, but a combination of silly games and good humour saw us all through."

Organisers said the event had been very successful and would raise around £175,000.


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