Furniture retail consultant David Tracey has undertaken one of the UK’s longest hiking trails to raise £11,114 for The Furniture Makers’ Company Step 2 It campaign.
The Step 2 It campaign aims to inspire companies and individuals to raises money by organising sports-based events with a goal to raise £250,000 to support those in the furniture making industry who have fallen on hard times. It runs until April 2022.
Tracey’s epic walk saw him walk the 192-mile Coast to Coast trail from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire. He passed through three national parks – the Lake District National Park, the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the North York Moors National Park.
Tracey (pictured right with his friend Steve Atkinson who accompanied him on the walk) completed his walk in 16 days, finishing on Wednesday, September 22. He covered a total of 204 miles, reaching an elevation of 25,300ft, clocked up 487,000 steps and lost a stone in weight.
Tracey has worked in the furnishing industry for more than 40 years in senior and director-level positions at companies including Dreams, Harveys, Hygena, MFI, Moores Furniture Group and Wesley Barrell.
Completing the Coast to Coast walk had been a long-held ambition for Tracey. Commenting on his epic fund-raiser, he said: “I’m so grateful to everyone who has sponsored me and donated to The Furniture Makers’ Company – a charity close to my heart. The support really did inspire me to get the job done, through some very challenging days. Thank you all.
“It was a wonderful experience, and we met some great people along the way, both on the walk and at the small family businesses that hosted us, fed us and in some cases helped us with our essential intake of hop infused water. I could not have undertaken and completed the journey without my dear friend Steve Atkinson, my constant companion for 16 days, whose positive can do attitude and, when needed, tough love got us both through to the end.”
David Woodward, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “What can I say other than I’m in awe of David’s magnificent achievement. Thank you so much for undertaking such a challenge for the Step 2 It campaign and raising such an incredible amount that we can use to support many people in the trade who have fallen on hard times.” There is still time to sponsor David via his Virgin Money Giving campaign page
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