Horsham girl walks to Shoreham in aid of UNICEF

Imogen Hughes, 11, trekked 25 miles in support of Unicef to raise awareness for children in East Africa who have to walk in search of water.

The walk from Horsham to Shoreham took place on Saturday, August 27, and was designed to replicate the daily struggle faced by these children.

Imogen raised nearly £1000 at just 11 years old.

Imogen said: “The first 13 miles were fine but then my feet were aching. I changed my shoes three times and listened to music and my dad kept me company.

“I feel very happy but also a bit aching.”

Imogen said that the idea for the walk came from watching a Unicef advert of children having to walk miles for water. She also adds that she was also inspired by a family trip to Kenya five years ago.

She designed the challenge herself having taken up walking over lockdown - but the most she had done previously was 13 miles.

The walk took Imogen and her dad over the South Downs and towards Shoreham.

Imogen’s mother, Julie, said: “She set herself a pretty difficult challenge. I did think those final five miles were a step too far but she surprised us all.”

She added that Imogen had suffered from displaced hips at the age of three which involved her needing to re-learn how to walk.

Imogen's walk took her across the South Downs

Dad Jonathan added that he “saw her through the easy bit and the tough times but she managed to find the strength to push through and carry on to the end”.

Both parents said that they were extremely proud of what their daughter had achieved.

Imogen has already joked about her next challenge as she says that she will have to try 50 miles next, but maybe not for a few years yet.

So far she has raised over £900 for Unicef in the hope that the money will help people in East Africa as they struggle with famine and drought.

The current drought is the worst in four decades and has impacted on as many as 20 million people.