The End....!

Day 8 Schedule: It's all over bar the celebrations, our intrepid duo plan a day full of touristy fun with massages, acrobatics and a couple of Big Mac's no doubt! Well done you two, you deserve it! and thanks to all who supported you from start to finish!

They Did It! : October 13th 2007

Day 8....The day after the walk before. Our dynamic duo are back to earth and civilisation with a bump and a Big Mac! The girls have completed their epic 7 day journey, something they will never forget (and I'm sure that due to countless stories they'll tell us, neither will we!). And now for a well deserved rest, massage and entertainment.The majority of their trekkin buddies have flown out and it was sad to see them go. The final night was spent in Beijing bars and the best night life the city had to offer. Only 3 hours were left to get sleep before heading off to forbidden city and Tianeman Square.

Incoming communication from down under (upside)....."You girls rock for sticking it out to the very end! I admire anyone who works hard to make a difference in this world. This experience will change you both forever. Congrats! Kristy xo"

Message from Mum & Dab (aaahh): Well done to you both. We are immensly proud of you Helen. XXXXX Mum & Dad

Message from Webmaster: You girls are the tops, well done for keepin' on keepin' on..you've made a difference to peoples lives through Marie Curie and Make a Wish! Have a Big Mac on Me! - Spence x

To help support Nichola and Marie Curie Cancer Care, Click Here

To help support Helen and Make a wish, Click Here

At last..the end is in sight!

Day 7 Schedule: Our final walk takes us along the wall at Juyongguan, with spectacular views. At the end of the trek we must leave the wall and catch a bus back to Beijing. - Approx 4 hrs walking. We will be staying in local peoples houses, in the villages that we stop off in, so it will be a real cultural experience :)

Daily Blog: October 12th 2007

Day 7-....The last day of the wall today and it is becomming a lot more touristy. The girls report that they are a novelty act for the chinese folk, it appears that everyone wants their picture taken with an english girl! They are looking forward to tonights celebration meal before seeing a few torist attractions tomorrow. They have planned a well deserved massage and a chinese acrobat show!

Keep checking in daily on www.chinatrek.co.uk

Why don't you send a message of support by emailing emailme@spencerallen.co.uk

I'll add your messages to the website and send the best ones on to the dynamic duo!.

To help support Nichola and Marie Curie Cancer Care, Click Here

To help support Helen and Make a wish, Click Here

Located at Huairou County some 73 kilometers (about 45 miles) northeast of Beijing..not too far from the nearest McDonalds!

Day 6 Schedule: The day begins with a 3 hr bus transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall. The trek starts with a 1.5 hours climb up the side of a hill to reach the wall, and we walk along it until we descend down to the village Mutianyu. Approx 4- 5 hrs walking

Daily Blog: October 11th 2007

Day 6 -The end is nearly in sight....another hard day trekking whilst the tourist take the cable car and the girls soldier up on foot. Just tomorrow to go...Nichola is already fed up with Chinese food and wants a McDonalds!

Keep checking in daily on www.chinatrek.co.uk

Incoming Message.... Hi Nick Keep going, we are very proud of you. Lots of hugs for you and Helen. Well done.

Lots of Love Mum & Dad

Poets Corner...Zippidi doo dah zippidi day - Wow a great way to end the day - on a high and hanging around. Only two days left, so it’s downhill from now on ( sort of). What with zip lines, yomping and blisters you’ll be signing up for the Para’s next !

Tim & Lindsey xxxxxx

Why don't you send a message of support by emailing emailme@spencerallen.co.uk

I'll add your messages to the website and send the best ones on to the dynamic duo!.

To help support Nichola and Marie Curie Cancer Care, Click Here

To help support Helen and Make a wish, Click Here

ouch my feet hurt!

the fastest way down and no painful walking!

Day 5 Schedule: The day starts with steps back up to the mountains, where the scenery is superb with purple hills fading into the distance. We leave the wall at Simatei as it clings onto a cliff face, so we finish the day with a 400m zip slide (how cool!!) across the lake, then catch a small boat to our accommodation. - Approx 6 hrs walking

Daily Blog: October 10th 2007

Day 5 has again been a hard day of undulating trekking (there seems to be a pattern emerging here!). The walking today however ended with the inclusion of the worlds longest zip or 'death' slide. The girls bravely took a tandem 400m ride to the bottom of a mountain across a lake! Those trekkers not up to the job had to walk down the mountain and get a boat across to meet our brave troops! Meanwhile, the blisters are on the increase, maybe that's why the zip slide sounded appealing!

Keep checking in daily on www.chinatrek.co.uk

Why don't you send a message of support by emailing emailme@spencerallen.co.uk

I'll add your messages to the website and send the best ones on to the dynamic duo!.

To help support Nichola and Marie Curie Cancer Care, Click Here

To help support Helen and Make a wish, Click Here

up and down, down and up...is there no end to this wall!

Day 4 Schedule: A quick 20 min bus journey takes us to our start point outside the village of Gubeiko, and we walk on a well preserved part of the wall that dates back to the Qing Dynasty. We have to drop down to the valley to avoid a Chinese military post!? , then re-join the wall, which will lead us to Jinshanlin. - Approx 7 - 8 hrs walking walking 4 hrs

Daily Blog: October 9th 2007

Day 4 has been reported as an officially hard day!!! Up and down the mountainside for over 7 hours. The girls have been followed the entire day by what are known locally as 'shadows'. These are local farmers who try to make money by selling the trekkers souveniers or offer to carry their packs. They have joined the trek, whether wanted or not and at first the girls thought they were a really pain in the butt. After several hours they realised thet they were friendly and helped the girls out, telling them about the local area. They even fanned the girls at rest stops! They have reported that their bodies are hating them right now!

Message Alert: To Helen, Nicky and the group. Keep the spirits going - your half way there ! Like the old Chinese Learned man, Confucius, Said “ Many steps make light walk”. “Each step in the wall is a life that has been changed by your efforts” A quote from the book Walking for Fun, by Mr. P. Lod. Tim & Lindsey XXXXXX

To help support Nichola and Marie Curie Cancer Care, Click Here

To help support Helen and Make a wish, Click Here

this spot marks the point at which 3 provinces meet. You can see where the girls have walked in the background.

Day 3 Schedule: From the village we have to take an old farmers track up to the wall, as this part of the wall is in great decay, and the rough old stones are loose and unstable. The track takes us along a valley of fertile terraces, planted with walnut and fruit trees, and end the day at a village outside Jinshanlin. - Approx walking 4 hrs

Daily Blog: October 8th 2007

The girls are still going.... day 3 and no let up in the walking, spirits are high and Helen reports having completed her first 'bio' break on route. Keep following the girls' daily blog exclusively on Chinatrek.co.uk!

Message from Tim: Go Girls - only 82,496 and a half steps to go! We are thinking of you all the way.

Why don't you send a message of support by emailing emailme@spencerallen.co.uk

I'll add your messages to the website and send the best ones on to the dynamic duo!.

To help support Nichola and Marie Curie Cancer Care, Click Here

To help support Helen and Make a wish, Click Here

...and this is the view inside of the girls hotel room, very cozy!!!

Day 2 Schedule: We start the day walking up the steep renovated steps towards what appears to be a sheer cliff face. Then we encounter 'heavens ladder', a steep climb of over 200 steps leading us up the cliff face, and follows the contours of the mountain. Approx 7 hrs walking

Daily Blog: October 7th 2007

The girls' report that they are 'knackered' after yesterdays warm up walk! Today they face 'Heavens Ladder' a steep climb of over 200 steps leading them along a mountain ridge.

Follow the girls daily blog exclusively on Chinatrek.co.uk!

Why not send a message of support by emailing emailme@spencerallen.co.uk

I'll add your messages to the website and send the best ones on to the dynamic duo!.

To help support Nichola and Marie Curie Cancer Care, Click Here

To help support Helen and Make a wish, Click Here

Wow the view from the hotel as the girls' start their first day trekking !

Day Schedule 1: The girls' transfer from Beijing to above Huangyaguan, and first see the Great Wall along the ridgeline of the Yanshan Mountains. They predominantly walk downhill until they reach the small town of Huangyaguan. - Approx 2 -3 hrs walking

Daily Blog: October 6th 2007

The girls' trek is underway and this is the sight they awoke to this morning. This is the actual view from their hotel rooms! Now the 'fun' starts and we'll see if all that training they did pays off! Will Helens' new boots cause blisters? Will Nichola be able to stand up straight with all that food in her back pack?

All these and other questions will be answered in their daily blog. Follow it here exclusively on Chinatrek.co.uk!

Why not send a message of support by emailing emailme@spencerallen.co.uk

I'll add your messages to the website and send the best ones on to the dynamic duo!.

To help support Nichola and Marie Curie Cancer Care, Click Here

To help support Helen and Make a wish, Click Here

........China here we are! A long way to go for takeaway!

Daily Blog: October 5th 2007

The girls have arrived in Beijing after an extended trip thanks to a delay at Dubai! Tired and weary from the long flight, the girls' do what they do best and eat! They have their first Chinese in China (a long way for a takeaway!) and are relieved when it didn't contain any exotic animals. The organisers have told them that they have to be up at 7.00 am tomorrow for the warm up trek before the big off! They've also given the girls' lovely name badges to which Nichola replied 'We don't need no stinkin' badges.'

To help support Nichola and Marie Curie Cancer Care, Click Here

To help support Helen and Make a wish, Click Here

Not long till take off, China here we come....

Daily Blog: October 4th 2007

The girls were up bright and early, flying out at 2.00pm this afternoon. The night before, Nichola had taken the opportunity for one last Indian before 2 weeks on Chinese, when her colleagues at work went out to say good-bye! I'm not sure they really expect her to come back!

Keep checking out the dynamic duo's progress everyday here exclusively on Chinatrek.co.uk!

To help support Nichola and Marie Curie Cancer Care, Click Here

To help support Helen and Make a wish, Click Here

Last minute packing before the off!

Daily Blog: October 3rd 2007

The night before they fly out to China to start their trek for charity.

This is the state of their bedrooms as the girls last minute packing commences. What to pack? Will it all fit? Do they have chocolate in China?

All these questions and how the girls get on will be answered in their daily blog. Follow it here exclusively on Chinatrek.co.uk!

To help support Nichola and Marie Curie Cancer Care, Click Here

To help support Helen and Make a wish, Click Here

Which way to China? Nichola tests her map reading skills.

Walking The Wall For Charity!

4th - 13th October 2007

To donate and help these two achieve their dream of getting to walk the wall please follow the following link:

To help support Nichola and Marie Curie Cancer Care, Click Here

To help support Helen and Make a wish, Click Here

This way...quick march!! Helen can't wait to walk the wall.