by Sofia Moreau

>

Heidi, a spirited 44-year-old mother of three children, aged seven, six, and three, is renowned for her affinity with marathon running. But on this occasion, she is pulling up her running socks for a much bigger—100 miles to be exact—endeavour. This daring feat is not merely for the adrenaline rush; it is to help a little boy walk his path in life a little more freely—a young boy named Freddie.

Freddie, only six years into his journey of life, was diagnosed with a rare degenerative muscle condition. As a dear friend’s son, Freddie’s predicament touched Heidi’s heart deeply. It is Freddie’s unyielding spirit and the need to see him regain his independence that fuels Heidi’s daring pursuit to run the equivalent of four marathons in three days—beginning from Winchester, traversing up to Eastbourne, all off the beaten path.

During this daring expedition, Heidi will face challenging terrains, steep climbs, and spend two nights solo in a tent, bearing her own sustenance and essentials throughout the journey. Her ultimate goal is to accumulate funding to procure an all-terrain wheelchair for Freddie, which is sure to sprinkle color onto the canvas of his life.

Heidi’s Fervor Shines Through

Behind this courageous quest, a touching story unfolds. Heidi describes Freddie’s mother as nothing short of amazing, carrying a bright smile amidst life’s many trials. With Freddie’s escalating health condition, Heidi’s efforts for making his life more comfortable has become more crucial than ever. And inspired by his resilience and zest, she has chosen this daring endeavour to make a difference in Freddie’s life.

Starting Line of Her Quest

The flashpoint of this endeavour was when Freddie, while testing an all-terrain wheelchair, could cobble together pebbles at the beach, and his stormy face cleared up with radiance. This sight inspired Heidi to catalyze the fundraiser to enable Freddie to rekindle his lost mobility and companionship.

Preparations for the Trek

Heidi, though a seasoned and well-trained endurance runner, faced challenges while training for the 100-mile trek but remained undaunted. Training with a heavy backpack and focusing on heavyweight endurance, she also incorporates yoga as a means of injury prevention.

Icy Terrain and Navigation Hurdles

Dealing with the bone-chilling cold does not come natural to Heidi. She combats this by maintaining a cloth swaddle alongside, seeking refuge in her warm sleeping bag post the day’s run. The journey’s navigation is part of her big adventure, and she looks forward to it after her experiences with navigational ultra runs.

Meals and Mental Tactics

For sustenance throughout her journey, she relies on self-heating ration food pouches. Nevertheless, the psychological battle during the journey remains crucial. Heidi adopts multiple mental tricks for motivation in phases as opposed to looking at the journey as a single long run.

Fears and Excitements

Although being alone, especially during night times, jitters Heidi, a good novel and chocolate keeps her company. Her enthusiasm remains high for the panoramic nature views that the Downs offer.

Fundraising for Freddie

Hefts of funds have been raised already, leaving behind an awe-inspiring tale of a mother’s dedication towards making a difference in a young boy’s existence. A £20,000 all-terrain wheelchair, the heart of this fundraising endeavor, will undoubtedly bring the wild winds of change for Freddie.

This marathon endeavour and the inspiring story behind the cause shows us the strength of a woman’s spirit to reshape lives. Every step Heidi takes on her 100-mile journey paves the path for a better future for Freddie.

endurance challenge, rare degenerative muscle condition, wheelchair fundraiser, health, marathon run, Heidi Hodgson, Laura Malpass, 100-mile trek, mental endurance, navigational ultra-runs