Soldier braves snow in epic charity trek
Christian Nock
A former soldier slept rough in Eastbourne’s blizzard this week as he stopped over during his attempt to walk around Britain.
Christian Nock, who turned 39 the day he arrived in the town, has been walking around the country since August to raise money for Help For Heroes.
He arrived after a day of walking across a snow-covered Beachy Head to spend the night on a camp bed in a metal shed at the Hotel Marina on the seafront. The former army solider has raised more than £30,000 while travelling round the coastline, sleeping rough and relying on the kindness of others to give him food.
Christian, who spent time on the streets after leaving the army, said, “I’ve been offered hotels, B&Bs, people’s houses, caravans, but I always knock them back to sleep rough.
“I’ve slept everywhere from a cave, multi-storey car park, shop doorways, barns, stables, beaches, woods, under the stars, anywhere and everywhere you can think of.”
Christian, who started from Blackpool on August 8 last year and has hardly stopped since, said, “I have been walking for 216 days now, with a 30 kilo pack on my back.”
When asked what his motivation is to keep going each day, he said, “I used to be homeless. I was left in a position, as an ex-soldier, where I had no money coming in and nowhere to live.
“I want to do this to raise awareness for others in this situation. I did this because I have nothing left to go back to. This is my life now.”
Christian was hoping the round-Britain challenge would take him 18 months, but seven months later he is only a third of the way through. He now expects it to take three years.
He said, “I’m not cutting any corners, I’m not taking any ferries. I’ve taken 80-100 mile-long detours to avoid 10- minute ferry rides.”
To donate visit www.bmycha rity.com/ChristianNock and follow his journey on Facebook.
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Weather for Eastbourne
Saturday 18 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
