“Nothing stops us”: Wigan friends win worldwide fans by documenting their adventurous 40-mile walks
Wigan friends have won worldwide fans by documenting their ambitious 40-mile walks on Facebook, inspiring fans to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.
Pam McDonald, 53, a sheltered housing worker, and Anne Noone, 45, a nail technician, both from Kitt Green, first met after Pam’s son Kian moved away for university.
They developed a strong friendship based on their shared love for walking.
The pals started with 20-mile walks on Saturdays, then doubled up by walking from home to Rivington and back, taking around 16 hours to complete with a much-needed pub stop.
Pam said: “I have always done a lot of walking with my dad, Bill Mayers, since I was a young girl.
“When I got married and had our son, I started walking with him, buying his first walking boots at four years old.
“We both love being outdoors in the fresh air, and can’t think of anything better after a busy week at work than on one of our long walks.”
Pam and Anne document their 40-mile walks with their Facebook followers, ranging from Wigan locals to Australians originally from Wigan, and have managed to trek over 2,000 miles a year.
The weekends when they’re not doing their walks are filled with trips to the Lake District, ticking off Wainwrights, or Pam working at the market with her husband, Stephen McDonald, on Sundays.
They also recently completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in the Dales.
Pam added: “It’s great for your physical and mental wellbeing. It’s a full day of no technology, apart from taking photos, and you’re guaranteed a good night's sleep afterwards.
“There will come a time when we are older, when we will not be able to do our walks, so we keep doing them whilst we still can.
“Nothing stops us. They are tough going sometimes, and often we have to apply plasters to our blistered feet along the route, but we don’t stop, we carry on through the pain.
“This year, we are aiming for 45 miles. We believe we can do it, and we always say if you don’t push yourself, you’ll never know how far you can go.”
Pam and Anne have just planned their next hike from Kitt Green to Speke Hall, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, and back: a mere 42 miles!