Daring fundraisers tackle Three Peaks hike challenge for charity

By Mark Barrow

A DARING team took on Yorkshire’s daunting Three Peak Challenge to help raise more than £700 for Dr Kershaw’s.

The challenge on June 6 saw around 1,000 people complete a 24-mile walk across Pen-Y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in under 12 hours.

Eight of the participants completed the gruelling thanks to training and guidance from Greenfield-based organisation Adventure Based Learning.

The community interest company inspires people, often with physical or learning difficulties, to complete challenges they would otherwise have thought impossible.

And many of the team also had personal reasons for completing the task to raise money for Dr Kershaw’s after losing relatives or friends to terminal cancers.

The walk itself began at 8am and passed through some of Yorkshire’s most idyllic attractions, like the picturesque Ribble valley, and the Settle to Carlisle railway line.

Despite some mesmerising views, the walk was dangerous in places as participants combated 70mph winds, narrow ridges and unnervingly steep, rocky paths and gullies.

But Mark Hilton, from Adventure Based Learning, said the fulfilment they felt at completing the challenge will inspire them in the future.

He said: “Once at the top of the mountain, that sense of achievement can give you the self-belief that’s needed to deal with the problems life throws at you.

‘’By helping people on the fringes of society, it’s an achievement in itself for them to combat the personal struggle in their minds.

“The thing that seemed impossible and daunting was achieved by simply focusing on what was in front of you.

‘’I said to ‘believe in yourself’, and this is what made people succeed – there’s already aspirations for Kilimanjaro and Mount Blanc!’’

The next three peaks challenge takes place on the 25July – for more information please email Arron.Cheshire@drkershawshospice.org.uk

To find out more about Adventure Based Leaning visit their website www.adventurebasedlearning.org.uk or email info@adventurebasedlearning.org.uk