Over the weekend of the 19th and 20th July, the Warwick Wombles from the University of Warwick and Earlsdon took part in an epic challenge to walk the equivalent of two and a half marathons in just over 24 hours.

Trailwalker is one of the hardest team events in the world - requiring groups of four to cover a 100km course across the beautiful South Downs in less than 30 hours - which means that most walked on through the night. The teams had to start together, stick together throughout the course and finish together. The walk would not have been possible without the kind support of the Reinvention Centre, who lent their minibus to the team for the event.

Team Leader, Justine Pedler, said:

I am so proud of the four of us who walked and all the people who supported us during the walk. Every blister, every rub and every hour without sleep was worth it. Our target was £2000 and to date we have hit £3120. There's still time to visit our site at www.justgiving.com/warwickwombles and help us get to £4000 - every penny is truly appreciated.

Sponsorship for the event is one of the most important and challenging elements. Each team had to raise at least £1500 to support Oxfam’s work in relieving poverty and suffering around the world, and The Gurkha Welfare Trust in helping Gurkha ex-servicemen and their families in Nepal.

Trailwalker was started by Gurkha soldiers in Hong Kong in 1981 as a training exercise to test endurance and encourage teamwork. It is now a global phenomenon with events held in Australia, New Zealand, Hongkong and Japan as well as in the UK.