The start from Wembley – coping with the media and Shooter Hill

We arrived early at the new Wembley stadium for our proposed start at 10.30 a.m. and by 9.30 there were twenty of us ready for the off. The Sky News team had arrived even earlier and live interviews for Sky News and Sky Sports followed with the opportunity for some audience participation. Then photographs and eventually we set off. A big black stretched limo pulled up alongside after only a few minutes. We could have all fitted inside and had a lift to Frankfurt but the window rolled down and the driver said ‘'Just seen you on Sky mate, good luck with your walk'' and was on his way.

A Reuter's photographer met up with us and then the London Tonight team caught up with us just after we crossed the North Circular and we diverted to a local park for more interviews and filming of the team. By now we were running late and when we reached the Grand Union Canal to find the tow path closed, a late finish was on the cards – we had only walked 2½ miles!

Faye took charge of the map and expertly got us back to the canal and we walked towards Little Venice past the Buddhist shrine and took a break whilst the slower walkers caught up. Next on the schedule were the parks – Hyde, Green and St. James's and we crossed Westminster Bridge amidst the tourists about 2.30 p.m.

South of the river we made better progress and arrived at our first stop – Southwark Tesco – ravenous and ready to sit down. The TESCO team were great, confusion initially on my part, meant that they weren't expecting us but they quickly directed us up to the staff restaurant and provided lunch for the 12 who had completed the 12 miles.

Revitalised and with West Ham winning 2-1, we set off to attack the second half of our walk and soon had New Cross, Lewisham and Blackheath behind us – Shooters Hill loomed large. The group of nine had split into two and Dan towed me up the long, hard drag setting a mean pace that I tried to follow. The walk down the other side was even more painful and Dan and Anthony took a seat and a pint of shandy at the John Barras and waited for the others to arrive whilst I carried on for the last 2 miles of the day. I finished at the Bexley Heath and within 5 minutes Sandra was there to take me back to the others. After a good stretch down, I went in for a pint of orange and Ted and Anthony collected donations from the busy pub. Everyone was very generous and there were lots of good luck wishes – one fireman was particularly kind and interested in the walk and we chatted for a few minutes. It helped to put the day in perspective and we parted, both with tears in our eyes and a firm handshake.

Yellow jersey award for walker of the day – shared by Faye and Nina.

Distance covered – 22.4 miles Total covered – 85.2 miles