Teesdale students' 40-mile trek to help fund globetrotting adventures

A PAIR of A-level students from Teesdale have taken on a 40-mile march over the Yorkshire Moors to fund their global adventures.
Sam Kitson, from Startforth Park, and Tom Matthews, from Cotherstone, completed the Lyke Walk ahead of international tours they have planned for the summer.
Sam wants to spend five weeks in the Peruvian Amazon while Tom is heading for the Himalayas.
They each need to raise £4,500 to achieve their international dreams.
Tom, who is a volunteer at Wetherriggs Wildlife Sanctuary, off the A66 at Greta Bridge, said he would be taking part in geological studies during his tour to the Ladakh region of Northern India.
He added: “The British Explorers Society (BES) has been running annual trips to challenge and develop young people since 1932. The BES enables young people from all backgrounds to recognise, unlock and act on their individual potential through exploration – supported by teams of exceptional leaders acting as role models.”
Along with the  walk, Tom has been selling his artwork to raise the cash he needs for the trip.
Sam will be helping with biodiversity research during his tour to South America.
He said: “Ever since I was a kid I dreamed of exploring in the jungle and now, at 17, I am going to the Amazon. On this expedition I will be working on an investigation into biodiversity while helping a local community.
“The work experience in scientific fieldwork should help me in my job choice as I plan to go into scientific research for my further studies.”
The two started the Lyke Walk from Osmotherley to Ravenscar at 4.13am to give them enough time to finish.
They completed their journey in about 14 hours and although Sam admits the first stages, along the Cleveland Way, were easy, it was not long before he suffered from cramp. He said: “After the half way stop at Lion Inn we walked five miles through bogs. I’ve mentioned the pain in my legs but by this point I could not stop walking without getting cramp.
“I walked the next 8.5 miles trying to walk off the cramp in my legs but instead succeeded in numbing my leg.
“At the final checkpoint, I admit I was no longer enjoying myself and wanted it to be over, so we skipped a rest and started our last two miles. As we started Tom said we should run the rest of the way, joking or not, I took his suggestion seriously. By this point I could feel nothing below the waist and I just wanted it to be over so the last two miles we finished by running to the end.”
No doubt the walk will serve as good preparation for the lads’ international tours to two very different corners of the Earth.
To help fund the teenagers’ adventures visit samkitsonperu.weebly.com and just
giving.com/crowdfunding/tom-matthews