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Dave Verlander

The Cateran Yomp 2026

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£400

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My Updates

Countdown has begun 1 week til the big day

The countdown is over… 🇬🇧🥾 On Thursday I’ll be heading up to Scotland to rest and prepare for my biggest challenge yet — the Cateran Yomp, hiking 54 miles in 24 hours for the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF). The hard work is done now. Over the past 4 months I’ve pushed through the miles, trained across Hastings, the South Downs and beyond, and I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved so far. Now it’s time to put everything into the challenge on the day. I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported me, donated, walked with me, encouraged me and backed me throughout this journey. The support from family, friends and work colleagues has honestly meant a lot.

Last walk completed for the big day for the yomp

Well that’s my last big walk ready for my challenge in two weeks’ time — and the final big yomp training session ticked off ✅ 18.5! Miles completed today 

Big thank you to @jason.johnstone147  for joining me at mile 7 — great to chat and take on some solid elevation through Hastings Country Park.

Started at Battle and worked my way through Crowhurst, Bexhill-on-Sea and Hastings before heading into the country park and on to Fairlight. Left Jason at Ore before making my way home.

Felt good 😊 The yomp training has definitely paid off and I think I’m ready now… bring on the big day 💪

Alongside my running, every mile is helping prepare me for the main event this June:

➡️ A 54-mile hike across rural Perthshire, Scotland, to be completed within 24 hours as part of a team of ex-service personnel and serving members of the Armed Forces.

We’re raising money for the Army Benevolent Fund, supporting soldiers, veterans, and their families when they need it most.

So far, thanks to everyone’s kindness and generosity, I’ve raised £638 and even earned promotion from Private to Sergeant in the charity’s Fundraising Army 🙏

If you’re able to support the challenge, no matter how small the donation, I’d be incredibly grateful.

https://events.armybenevolentfund.org/s/26574/44696/e

Every step is for them

Hastings country park to Winchelsea fairlight and ore

Today’s training was no easy stroll—it was one of those days that really tests you.

I left home and headed down into the Old Town of Hastings, before taking on the steps of East Hill. From there, I pushed through Hastings Country Park and across Ecclesbourne Glen—passing the lifeguards where I saw Hughie’s Bench of Awesomeness ❤️

Then it was on through the Fire Hills, with the climbs and coastal paths really starting to bite, all the way out to Fairlight and down to Cliff End in Winchelsea.

By that point the legs were feeling it, but after a short stop, it was time to turn around and go again.

The return leg was just as tough—climbing back up Fairlight, over Battery Hill, and grinding all the way home via Ore. Tired legs, heavy steps, but exactly the kind of training that builds the resilience needed for what’s coming.

This is all part of my preparation for a huge challenge in just 4 weeks’ time: taking on the Cateran Yomp in Scotland—54 miles in 24 hours—alongside ex-service veterans and currently serving personnel.

It’s going to push me physically and mentally further than I’ve ever gone before. There will be moments where it hurts, where the body wants to stop—but that’s where the team, the purpose, and the mindset kick in.

Because this isn’t just about distance.

It’s about resilience. It’s about teamwork. And most importantly, it’s about supporting an incredible cause that helps soldiers, veterans, and their families when they need it most.

Every mile we train, every step we take on the day—it’s all for them.

Thank you to anyone who supports, shares, or follows the journey—it genuinely means a lot.

Every step we take is for them.

SDM 28 miles

Just completed an incredible 28-mile hike across the South Downs starting from East Dean—what a day. The route took us through some of the most stunning countryside, including the Seven Sisters, Cuckmere Haven, Firle Beacon, and past the Long Man of Wilmington. We also passed through the beautiful villages of Litlington, Firle, and Alfriston. 28 miles, 4,000ft of ascent, all within 11 hours—definitely character building, but exactly the kind of challenge I needed as I prepare for what’s coming next. A huge thank you to Kelly DeRosa the opportunity, and to her amazing friends Helen Munday Luke and Natasha Vydee for all the support throughout the day—it made a massive difference either way their own challenge of walking the Jurassic coast in the next couple weeks they smashed it out the park In June, I’ll be taking on an even bigger test: 54 miles in 24 hours in Perthshire, Scotland, alongside serving soldiers and veterans. This isn’t just about distance—it’s about resilience, teamwork, and supporting an incredible cause that helps soldiers, veterans, and their families when they need it most. If you’re able to support, even a small donation makes a real difference :https://events.armybenevolentfund.org/s/26574/44696/e Every step we take is for them.

Pier to pier challenge

Pier to pier challenge Eastbourne to Hastings’s

Took on a pier-to-pier coastal challenge today as part of my preparation for the Cateran Yomp this June 🌊👣

It was a great day all around — not just for the route  the people and the weather, but also for the opportunity to volunteer my first aid support for ASOC. I was especially glad to help a gentleman reach the finish line, which made the day even more rewarding, thank you @squeeqs33  and @associationofcarers  for letting me be a part of this and all my other walking buddies that smashed it today @waite_86 

In June, I’ll be stepping up to the Cateran Yomp challenge: 54 miles in 24 hours across the hills of Perthshire, Scotland ⛰️🇬🇧

I’ll be walking alongside serving personnel and veterans. This is about much more than the distance — it’s about resilience, teamwork, and supporting an incredible cause that provides vital help to soldiers, veterans, and their families ❤️

Pier to pier challenge

Next walk is  on Sunday starting from Eastbourne pier to hastings pier along the coastal route I’m volunteering Asa first aider for the association of carers for a good friend who I run with getting three miles in 17miles and then a little walk home after 

13 miles over Hastings’s, fairlight , guestling , three oaks and ore

Today I walked from home across Hastings Country Park, over East Hill and down to the lifeguards, then on to Fairlight. From there I pushed on to Guestling Green, through Three Oaks and back over towards home in ore — all part of my training and preparation for the Cateran Yomp this June.

Training begun battling storm Dave

54 miles. 24 hours. One relentless challenge. Today was a solid step in preparation for the Cateran Yomp in June, pushing from Hastings out to Rye and back—taking on the winds across Cliff End and through Hastings Country Park. Not easy, but that’s the point. Great to have @ntaylor7664 alongside for the miles (and a well-earned pint halfway 🍺), then straight back into the elements on the return leg. Thank you who has donated already I’m are truly grateful ☺️

Sponsors so far

Thank you all for your kind donations and support so far I really appreciate this and this will drive me to my goals so thank you all from the bottom of my heart ❤️ 

Thank you to my Sponsors

£53.32

Linden Aslett

Dave, 54 miles is seriously impressive, fair play to you! 💪 Wishing you the best of luck for the hike. It’s an incredible challenge, I am sure you’ll smash it. Proud to sponsor you for such a great effort. All the best, Linden

£53.32

George Knell

good luck in your new challenge ! you got this wolf man ! best wishes and enjoy ! such a good cause ! lots of love lisa and george

£50

Longo Woodcrafts

Go smash it Dave

£33.15

Jo Glasper

What a great challenge Dave! You've worked so hard to support such a great cause. Persevere and enjoy

£32.23

Dave Barry

Great cause Dave! Enjoy the challenge...

£30

Lehane

Good luck Verlander! You’ll smash it! 💪🏻

£22.80

Mark Wilson

Good luck Dave - a fantastic cause!

£22.80

Sarah Adams

Good luck Dave

£22.80

Julie And Peter Vincent

£22.80

Michelle Blaikie

Good luck x

£22.59

Dave Verlander

£21.84

Paul Moir

Best of luck Dave from Paul & Michelle

£21.84

Matthew Isden

£21.84

Kaz Holewell

Good luck Dave xxx

£21.84

Linda Laidlaw

£21.84

Louise Vladi

£21.84

Shaun Cresswell

Good luck mate!

£21.84

Tracey Lawson

Good luck Dave - hope it gpoes well and that the weather is kind to you all too.

£21.84

Mark Wilson

A very worthy cause - good on you!

£20

Izzie And Sonny

Good luck dad go smash it love Izzie and Sonny xx

£20

John

Good luck bro 👊🏻

£20

Leonard Fox

Hope you do well Dave

£20

Hannah And Nick (the Hayler’s)

You are such an inspiration to so many people Dave. Go smash it!!

£17.10

Scott Richford

£13.79

Lyn Meadows

You can do this Dave

£11.55

Alison Hitchman

Good Luck Dave!

£11.55

Traci Sage

Go smash it Dave x

£11.55

Amanda Edwards

Well done Dave, will be a great achievement for a great charity

£11.55

Carla

Good luck Dave

£11.55

Kim Stoney-gardiner

Go Dave you can do it.

£11.33

Christopher Dodd

£11.33

Elaine Thorley

Good luck Dave! That is a tough challenge but you can do it x

£11.33

Nicola Sullivan

Good luck Dave x

£11.33

Trish Ridgway

Good Luck!

£11.33

Summer Bushell

£11.33

Keith Wyatt

Good luck

£11.33

Julia C

Well done Dave

£11.33

Shirley

Good luck

£10

The Loving-price’s

Good Luck Dave!

£10

Sophie Hampton

Good luck Dave! ❤️

£10

Anonymous

£10

Jackie Bone

Good luck love Jackie

£10

Natasha

Go smash it!

£6.11

Gareth Nightingale

Good luck you can do it matey

£6.11

Satvinder Chies

Good luck Dave. x

£5

Jo Richardson

Good Luck Dave!!

£5

Anonymous

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Our Team