Super Sarah goes the distance for Abbeyfield's 70th anniversary

Sarah goes the extra mile for Abbeyfield’s 70th

Regional Operations Manager, Sarah Hutchinson, has completed a 70-mile ultramarathon inspired by our 70th anniversary. Sarah took on the ultimate challenge and has raised almost £2,000 to support our residents. We couldn't be prouder of her determination to go the extra mile for older people.

Sarah took on The Wall on 13-14 June, running the entire length of Hadrian's Wall from Carlisle to Newcastle in support of Abbeyfield's work providing housing, care and support for older people across the UK.

The challenge covered 70 miles – one for every year of Abbeyfield's history. Founded in 1956, Abbeyfield is celebrating seven decades of providing older people with care, compassion and community.

Sarah, who oversees a number of Abbeyfield services across the East and North-East of England, said that the milestone anniversary inspired her to take on one of the toughest challenges of her life.

She said: "Abbeyfield began with one simple but powerful belied: that older people deserve companionship, dignity and a place to truly call home. Seventy years later, I see every day the difference our houses and care homes make to people's lives. Our residents become part of a family, not just a service.

“Taking on 70 miles felt like a fitting way to mark Abbeyfield’s 70th anniversary. It was a challenging experience, but it also gave me the opportunity to reflect on the remarkable impact Abbeyfield has had on so many lives over the past seven decades and the dedication of the colleagues and volunteers who make that possible every day.”

Sarah originally set herself a fundraising target of £500 and spent three months training through rain, wind and freezing temperatures in preparation for running the equivalent of almost three marathons back-to-back. After surpassing her initial target well before race day, she raised the bar to £1,956 – a tribute to Abbeyfield's founding year.

Sarah completed the challenge in an impressive 21 hours. Along the way, she was cheered on by Abbeyfield colleagues, residents and supporters. After staying at Abbeyfield's Loveday House in Wigton the night before the event began, she passed Riverhill in Corbridge en route to the finish line, stocking up on the free water, snacks and fruit that the residents had put out for the runners. After crossing the finish line, celebrations awaited her at Hope Bank View in Sunderland.

Sarah said: "I couldn't have completed this challenge without the support of Abbeyfield communities along the route.
"Knowing that residents and staff were cheering me on kept me going when things got tough – especially when I hit that 60-mile wall."

Follow Sarah's journey from start to finish on Facebook: 

• Setting Off — Sarah started her journey at 7am under a rainbow, with enthusiastic support and well wishes from everyone at Abbeyfield.
• Checkpoint #1 — Sarah successfully passed Checkpoint #1 at the 15-mile mark, making excellent progress as she headed into the next stage of her journey.
• Checkpoint #2 — Sarah tackled the challenging hill section of her 70-mile journey.
• Checkpoint #3 — 30 miles completed in roughly 8 hours of continuous running. As she heads into the next leg of The Wall, residents are cheering her on.
• The Halfway Mark — Sarah officially passed the halfway mark (35+ miles).
• Checkpoint #4 — 7:24pm marked 44 miles and over 12 hours of continuous running. Equipped with her night gear, she embarks on a 19-mile stretch toward Checkpoint #5.
• Riverhill Stop — Around 9pm, Sarah experienced a meaningful milestone by passing right by Abbeyfield at Corbridge (Riverhill).
• Finish Line — Sarah officially finished at 4:06am, after 21 hours and 70 miles, she crossed the finish line of The Wall.

Theresa Wilson, Director of Customer Experience at Abbeyfield Living Society, said: "Having worked with Sarah for many years, I know how dedicated she is to enhancing the lives of our residents, supporting our frontline colleagues and upholding the values of our historic organisation.

"We are all incredibly proud of this remarkable achievement. Not only has Sarah completed an extraordinary physical challenge, but she has also raised vital funds that will help us continue supporting older people to live well, feel connected and enjoy the highest possible quality of life."

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