Turnstone: Hunstanton writer John Maiden questions whether Vegan Runners are really merpeople in disguise…

In his weekly Turnstone column, Hunstanton writer John Maiden questions whether the town’s vegan runners could be merpeople in disguise…

For readers looking forward to another column on the history of the Hunstanton Society, this will appear next Friday subject to any breaking news in the meantime.

This week I am following up on the exploits of Vegan Runners, merpeople and hedgehogs.

Looking back over recent Turnstones, I realised that I had failed to find out from Kate Dunbar if being on the panel of a conference at the NEC in Birmingham had lived up to her expectations.

When asked, Kate replied: "Yes it was fantastic! I was on with some incredible women who have run and won some of the toughest ultras around.

“Two of the three others were vegan, the other one said she was plant-based, but I think she was just being coy because she said she has a vegan dog.

“I got to tell my story and talk about my vegan dog Betty, who is recovering from lymphoma, despite having been given just four weeks to live, but now, more than two years later, she is still going!

“I did my best to promote Vegan Runners, Running on Plants and Plant-Based Health Professionals UK. No one fell asleep, so I think that was a win."

I was pleased to confirm that it was definitely another win for Kate and for veganism.

Since then, Kate and some of her fellow Vegan Runners have been engaged in another challenge, which took place at Hunstanton's Oasis Leisure Centre earlier this month.

It was in fact a ‘Swimarathon’, which Kate celebrated like this: "Well done protein deficient super heroes at the Hunny Swimarathon. Really fun event again.

“It’s a relay for 55 minutes and then five minutes mad dash/splash. In all 156 lengths, which is three more than last year! Considering most of us are in our 60s not bad, hey.

“So that means next year we’ll be even faster. Well done to all teams taking part, and the Rotary for staging the event. Loved it!"

Always on the look-out for a link, I could not resist the temptation to make a connection between Kate's murals of mythical merpeople adorning an outside wall of the toilet block on The Green, and the apparent ease with which vegan runners became aquatic superstars when the occasion demanded it.

Could it be that Merpeople really exist, but have given up eating fish harvested from our polluted oceans? Now, increasing numbers are living on land as vegans!

Meanwhile, back in the real world, I got down to earth by asking Jan Smith to tell me if there was anything that needed more emphasis in my report of her hedgehog talk to the U3A. She very kindly came up with these vital points:

“Looking after hedgehogs properly requires knowledge, skill and experience, so if you find a hedgehog that needs help please don’t try doing it yourself or just waiting to see how it gets on. A few hours can make all the difference.

“Three things NOT to feed. Peanuts: hedgehogs have very small mouths and peanuts can get stuck behind their teeth, stopping them eating and even starting to rot.

“Sunflower hearts and mealworms: both of these can cause a potentially fatal bone disease. If you feed them to garden birds please, make sure visiting hedgehogs can’t get them.

“Remember, any hedgehog out in the day is almost always poorly and in need of help. Place it in a high-sided box indoors and call Hodmedods Helpline on 07724 005692 or Ryston Rachel's Hedgehog Hotel on 07724 005692.

“Want to know more about hedgehogs? Visit www.hedgehogstreet.org".