My Activity Tracking
216,794
Steps
My target 100000 Steps
I'm stepping for CAMHS
I’m taking part in the Summer STEP Challenge this July, raising money for CNWL NHS Health Charity — our official charity.
Every step I take will help support Children and Adolenscent Mental Health Services, with money raised going back into our services to provide additional support for the people who use them.
If you are able to donate, any amount - big or small - would be hugely appreciated.
Thank you for supporting me and helping to make a difference.
My Achievements
Fundraising page
Updated Profile Pic
Added a Blog Post
Received 5 Donations
Reached Goal
Increased Target
My Updates
Dubrovnik Calling: The Pivot to Montenegro & Stepping up for the Challenge
Friday 31st Jul
After paying for the flight, reality set in. The flight would land late at 20:20, and the only coach to Montenegro left at 20:30—leaving zero room for customs, baggage, or airport logistics. My other option was finding an Airbnb or a hotel. With no decent Airbnbs available, I was forced to do something I’d never done in another country: stay in a hostel. Back in Nigeria, my all-girls boarding school days meant I wasn't entirely a stranger to shared rooms, but as an adult accustomed to comfort, this was a whole new ballgame. Still, I was determined to embrace the experience.
The 5 AM Awakening and the Dubrovnik Sprint
I arrived at the quaint, surprisingly cool hostel at 21:50. True to form, I made sure I was up by 5:00 AM 'What's it with myself and 5am's' to access amenities before the world woke up.
Faced with a choice—sit at a coach station for seven hours to avoid missing the coach or adopt a new country, new me mindset—I chose action. I decided this was the ultimate opportunity to rack up my steps for the CNWL CAMHS step challenge.
The Adventure: I navigated local transport, walked endlessly through historic streets, and hopped on a cable car up the mountain until I felt wonderfully close to the sky.
The Thrill: Looking for one fun activity before departure, I saw online option of a sky bike. I asked myself, What is sky biking? Why sky biking?—and immediately answered, Why not? I pedaled suspended in the air until 1:20 PM before rushing back to catch my coach.
Reflections on the Road
The journey to Montenegro was an epic test of endurance, winding high up through the mountains and across a ferry, but I made it.
Was the adventure worth it? Yes.
Would I recommend being adventurous? Yes.
Was the CNWL CAMHS step challenge a fantastic way to combine fitness with exploration? Absolutely.
Is the cause for CNWL CAMHS step challenge worthy of a donation? Without a doubt.
Life doesn't always go according to plan, but when you meet unexpected detours with mindfulness, determination, and a sense of humor, even a missed flight becomes an unforgettable story.
A Heartfelt Thank You
A massive shout out to the CNWL NHS Health Charity, to everyone involved in organizing the challenge, and a huge thank you to each and every person who donated. Your support made every single step worthwhile!
The Great Tivat Trek: How a Missed Flight Turned Into an Unplanned Balkan Adventure (Part 1)
Friday 31st Jul
My alarm was set, the plan was locked in, and I was all set to head to Tivat, Montenegro, on Tuesday, July 21st. The schedule looked tight but doable: leave the house by 4:00 AM, hit the parking spot by 5:00 AM, and slide right into London Gatwick Airport by 5:15 AM for my 5:55 AM departure.
What could possibly go wrong? As it turns out, quite a lot.
The Domino Effect at Copall Parking
My morning hustle kicked off smoothly enough until I rolled into Copall Parking Gatwick at 04:59 AM—only for the shuttle coach to pull away right as I arrived, precisely at 05:00 AM. Cue the waiting game. I had to kick my heels until 5:15 AM for the next coach, finally stepping foot at London Gatwick North terminal at 05:27 AM.
Panic? Not yet. Determination? Absolutely.
I dashed to the security gates, only to be stopped in my tracks. The automated gates wouldn't let me through, and staff advised me to track down an easyJet attendant. Cue the cardio: I had to power-walk up and down different escalators twice just to find help. Thankfully, a genuinely lovely lady took pity on my frantic state, approved my situation, and rushed me through fast track.
The Chase to Gate 51
By this point, my adrenaline was pumping at maximum capacity. I was 100% sure I was going to make it. I looked up at the departure boards, spotted the dreaded words: Gates Closed.
Not ready to give up, I checked my boarding pass. Gate 51. I broke into a heavy sprint, panting down the corridor, mildly comforting myself with the thought that at least I was getting a massive head start on my daily step challenge.
I skidded to a halt at Gate 51. Let’s just say there wasn't a single passenger or attendant in sight. The board meant what it said. Gates. Closed.
Completely combobulated by this turn of events, I managed to track down a staff member who guided me back toward the easyJet help desk. But airport logistics mean you can’t just walk back out—I had to be officially off-boarded and escorted backwards through border force and security. While most people in my shoes would have been fuming, I decided to lean into a different mindset: Adventure. Many fellow travelers around me were visibly grumpy, but I figured, well, this is certainly an experience.
The Plot Twist: Where on Earth is Split?
Back out in the main terminal, I walked up to the desk to see if I could snag another ticket straight to Tivat. The verdict? The next available direct flight wasn't until Saturday.
My heart sank a little—today is Tuesday, and my friend's birthday is on Saturday. Missing the celebration wasn't really an option.
As luck would have it, the same lovely lady who helped me at security earlier appeared. “You could always go through Split and travel down to Montenegro,” she suggested.
My immediate thought? Split? Is that even a real place?
Naturally, I whipped out my trusted Google Maps. Sure enough, a new route unfolded before my eyes: Fly into Split, head down to Dubrovnik, and cross over into Tivat. Of course, the spontaneous flight to Split was the same as the next stop —it came out to roughly the same cost as also swapping to a future Tivat flight.
So, I bit the bullet. Dubrovnik it is .
I found myself sitting at the airport with 11 long hours to kill before my detour officially begins. Am I exhausted? Yes. Do I have any idea what awaits me on the coast of Croatia and Montenegro? Not a clue.
Will I make it to my friend's birthday in time? How chaotic is this overland Balkan journey going to be?
To be continued…
Thank you to my Sponsors
£50
Joyce Abolade
£25
Dennis A
You'll smash it and it's a great cause!
£25
Lola Osoba
Well done baby girl. You have got this.
£25
Michelle Essiet
Well done jojo, this is amazing xx
£25
Lola Odumosu
£25
Jennifer Wauchope
Good luck!
£25
Toyosi Osifeso
£15
Ifeoluwa Sadiq
£10
Anonymous
Well done! You got this x
£10
Jamie
£10
Abosede Oni
Well done Joyce Abolade, keep up the good work you’re doing
£10
Busayo Odude
£10
Hamoud Brothers Brother
£10
Kim Maya
£10
Anonymous
Wishing you all the best with your fundraising! Keep up the amazing work!
£10
Anonymous
£10
Pri Odu
£5
Damilola Roachford
£5
Anonymous
Well done
£5
Lade
£5
Ife
£2
