A huge thank you to Owen Hadley, who has raised £1,000 for the Parkinson’s Centre for Integrated Therapy (PCIT) at the University of Kent by taking on the Wolfpack London to Hastings 3-36 Survival Race.
When Owen signed up for the challenge, he knew he was taking on something tough. What he didn’t know was where he would be starting, who he would be tackling it with or quite what the next two days would involve.
The challenge began with Owen and his teammates, who were complete strangers to one another, having their phones sealed away and being dropped at an unknown location. Armed with just a map and compass, they had to navigate their way to Hastings over two days. By the time they reached the finish line, they had covered an impressive 35 miles.
“Taking part in the London to Hastings Survival Race was one of the toughest and most rewarding things I’ve done,” says Owen.
Travelling light was essential, so Owen carried only the bare minimum, including a tiny one-man tent. Some competitors didn’t even bring a tent and simply slept under the stars. Although the weather was kind to them and even hot at times, the combination of long distances, little sleep and the realities of camping made it a real test of endurance.
As well as navigating their way to Hastings, the teams faced a series of challenges that relied on everyone bringing their individual skills to the group. Owen’s experience with the fire service came in particularly handy when they had to light a fire without matches.
But the challenge was about more than simply reaching the finish line. Over the course of two days, Owen and his teammates had to rely on each other, encourage one another through the difficult moments and work together to overcome the challenges they faced.
They may not have been the fastest team to finish, but that didn’t matter to Owen. The real achievement was seeing a group of complete strangers become genuine friends.
“I absolutely loved the challenge, the camaraderie and the sense of achievement,” he says.
A challenge with a personal purpose
For Owen, there was an even more important reason for taking on the challenge. He wanted to raise money for PCIT, which supports his mum, Alex, who lives with Parkinson’s.
The last couple of years had been challenging for Owen personally and he wanted something positive to work towards that would push him both physically and mentally. When he discovered the Wolfpack Survival Race, its difficulty was part of the appeal.
“When I found the Wolf Pack Survival Race, I knew it would be a real test, but that’s exactly what appealed to me. Raising money for PCIT gave the challenge an even greater purpose. Seeing the support my mum and others affected by Parkinson’s receive through PCIT made me want to give something back.
Taking part wasn’t just about completing the course – it was about proving something to myself while helping a charity that means a great deal to my family. That’s what kept me going when things got tough.”
Owen’s connection with PCIT has given him a first-hand understanding of the difference the Centre can make to people living with Parkinson’s and their families.
“Watching Mum live with Parkinson’s has shown me just how much strength it takes to face each day. PCIT has given her more than therapy – they’ve given her confidence, independence and a place where she’s truly understood. Their support has made everyday life that little bit easier, and seeing the difference they’ve made to Mum means more to me than words can express. That’s why supporting PCIT is so important to me.”
Owen’s decision to take on such a demanding challenge has raised an incredible £1,000 for PCIT, helping the Centre to continue providing support to people living with Parkinson’s.
We are hugely grateful to Owen for taking on the Wolfpack London to Hastings Survival Race and for choosing to use his challenge to support PCIT. His determination, generosity and commitment will make a real difference to the Centre and the people and families it supports.
