This time last week, six teams were frantically racing to reach the final checkpoint of a two-day, low-budget adventure race across Northumberland and Newcastle, all in aid of Hospice Ethiopia UK.
Day 1 kicked off in Ponteland, where teams lined up in the park armed with nothing but their backpacks, paper maps (dated 1991!), green bandanas and a strict £20 daily cash budget. At 9:23am they were off, sprinting in different directions to locate the first checkpoint in Morpeth. The strategies differed from the get go with one team hopping straight onto a local bus, while another managed to hitch a ride in a red Porsche. By the time everyone reached Morpeth, a 1 hour and 54 minute gap had already opened between first and sixth place.
From Morpeth’s flower clock, teams were sent east to Northumberland’s iconic coastline. Clues guided them to precise checkpoints including the Ferryman’s Hut in Alnmouth, Warkworth Castle, and the famous fish and chip steps in Seahouses. Along the way, two teams successfully completed a challenge to win a Newcastle Brown Ale, while three teams fully immersed themselves in the local culture, perfecting phrases like “Gan canny on the road bonny lasses.”
By 5:00 PM, everyone had made it to the campsite in Longhoughton. Tents were pitched, and stories were shared over some questionable low-budget dinners. The “Thompson Old Timers” took the crown for the most unusual meal with their Toblerone sandwiches—now appropriately dubbed “a Northern pain au chocolat.”
On Sunday, the madness reset at 10:00am. One lucky team managed to hitch a lift right outside the campsite with a friendly couple who dropped them directly at Barter Books in Alnwick, the first checkpoint of the day. With its open fires and model trains passing overhead, this quirky bookshop was the perfect place to start the day’s adventures. Teams then journeyed through Rothbury before beginning their final descent into Newcastle City Centre, collecting extra points along the way. One challenge required buying the strangest item possible from a charity shop. Two teams unknowingly bought the matching set of a Winnie the Pooh plant pots collection. However, the ultimate winners, “Wrong Direction,” salvaged a “Howay the Lads” top for just 50p, taking maximum points for cultural relevance and budget-savviness.
As the teams closed in on the finish line, dashing between Jesmond Dene waterfall, Ouseburn Farm, and the Free Trade Inn – they were given one final task. Every team had been handed two bottles of beer that morning; to cross the finish line, they had to find a stranger to help open them and share the drink!
The first proof photo came through from “Wrong Direction,” who were first to make it across the line at the RedHouse pub. Ten minutes later, “The Jess & Kanchen Situation” arrived waving their arms in the air before collapsing onto the pavement after a brutal final sprint down the Quayside, where they had been battling market punters and limping Great North Runners. Over the next hour and a half, the rest of the pack rolled in, each with their own tales to tell.
As if the weekend hadn’t featured enough chaos, we then realised we were sharing the pub with the Prime Minister! He politely agreed to a picture and asked all about our weekend antics and the incredible cause we were supporting.
A message from trustee Alice:
A massive, heartfelt thank you! Honestly, by Sunday evening I could hardly string a sentence together. I was so overwhelmed with joy (and that was before shaking hands with the PM). I truly couldn’t have asked for a better weekend. The people who threw themselves into this challenge are a constant source of inspiration and motivation for me. You made this event everything we hoped for and so much more 💚
To our incredible followers and donors: a huge thank you to everyone who tracked our live updates on Instagram. Your messages and cheers kept the teams going. We have now received 73 donations, bringing our total to £1,922.26 (plus £468.75 in Gift Aid)! We are completely blown away by this community’s generosity. This money is genuinely life-changing. It goes directly to supporting Hospice Ethiopia, a non-government organisation in Addis Ababa. Because of you, their dedicated staff can continue providing essential, free home-based care to ensure that terminally ill individuals can die with dignity and free from pain.
It’s not too late to donate – please visit Just Giving
