After the previous years JOTT hike I issued a challenge to our Cubs – walk 10 miles in one day – the “Big Ten”. I had every confidence that they could all do this, but to make it easier we organised a circular walk around Norland Moor, with each circuit being 2½ miles long. This way, if any needed to drop out they could do so at the end of a circuit and we would never be more than a mile from the base.

At the same time we decided to make it into a sponsored event to raise money for the Salvation Way Junior Academy in Bombo, Uganda, which provides a quality education to over 120 of the poorest children you can imagine. All children at this school are sponsored by people here in England, and as more sponsors are found, the school needs to grow and add more classrooms.

We obtained permission from the council to erect a marquee at the start point to store bags in and provide shelter against the weather.

On the day of the hike, 18 Cubs were joined by 7 Scouts and 5 Beavers and the first two laps were completed by lunchtime. The Beavers walked just the first lap and then played games. The third lap, with full tummies after lunch was the hard one, with legs starting to ache. The fourth and last lap was more of a celebration circuit.

All the Cubs, and Scouts, walked the full 10 miles without any problems apart from the occasional boot rubbing. Who says kids cannot walk this distance? They are only limited by what they can see and what others tell them they can’t do. All they need is encouragement and they can achieve far more than you could imagine.

With all the sponsorship money collected in we have raised over £1,000!