At the time of writing, Henfield’s own Anne Dewdney is now three months into Challenge Annie 2025, her incredible 10-month, 10-challenge journey to raise £10,000 for Henfield Haven. With January’s 100 sit-ups a day, February’s Hen-Rox fitness challenge and the Brighton Half Marathon well and truly completed, momentum is building, with April’s activities set to bring some big tests of endurance mixed with community spirit.
On Sunday 2nd March, Anne laced up her running shoes for the Brighton Half Marathon, taking on 13.1 miles along the seafront, through Brighton’s bustling streets and past some of the city’s most famous landmarks.
Anne was admirably supported by friends, family and cheerleaders as she completed this incredible half-marathon challenge in a creditable 3 hours 49! She ran and walked alongside coach Katie Novis, her children Kate and Matt, friend Melissa Stepney, with incredibly strong support from Haven trustee Trevor Hodgson, Mark and Mandy Skilton who accompanied Rohan, and lots of local finish-line supporters. Well done Anne; the whole experience was emotional and exhausting, but worth every step!
A huge thank you to Lee McCatty Joinery, who proudly sponsored this challenge. Based in Henfield for over 23 years, they specialise in bespoke staircases, sash windows, doors and shopfronts across Sussex. They already support the Haven through the sale of their recycled wood briquettes, and their backing of Challenge Annie means so much.
April’s challenge brings things back to Henfield, as Anne teams up with Henfield Football Club’s youth teams to complete laps of Kings Field. This one is all about community, fitness and raising awareness for dementia.
Anne will be running two laps of Kings Field every day throughout April, and she won’t be doing it alone - young players from Henfield Football Club are getting involved to help raise money for Henfield Haven and spread awareness of dementia, all while having some fun along the way.
Planning to complete laps at 4.30pm on weekdays and either mornings or afternoons at weekends, timings will be coordinated with Henfield FC and details will appear on social media. With two weeks falling during the school holidays and the clocks going forward at the end of March, it will be lighter in the evenings, meaning there’s plenty of opportunity for children, parents, pooches and coaches to join in! Henfield Football Club will also be supporting the Haven at their annual tournament weekend, with donation buckets to help raise even more for the cause.
Good Friday and Easter Sunday will be no exception, and it would be fantastic to have supporters joining in whenever they can. Runners, walkers and crawlers welcome – it’s important everyone has a chance to take part! To support fundraising efforts, sponsorship forms will be provided for young players to collect donations, or you can contribute directly via Anne’s JustGiving page.
This challenge is kindly sponsored by Bank House Gates, specialists in handcrafted automatic and manual gates, barriers and bollards. Their support for Challenge Annie and the Henfield Haven is hugely appreciated.
With three challenges under her belt, Anne is more determined than ever. Looking ahead into May and her daily dip in the sea starts – time to get your swimmers ready! Here’s hoping for some good weather! Thank you to everyone who has donated, supported and cheered Challenge Annie on so far - let’s keep this going and make a real difference!
Amanda Thibaut