Mates aim high with mountain challenge
THERE will be no warm fires and cosy days in on winter weekends for a group of Mottram mates.
The eight friends are preparing to take on The Three Peaks Challenge in June to raise funds for East CheshireHospice and have just begun their training to get in shape for the gruelling 24-hour mountain challenge.
The challenge involves walking three mountains – Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England’s Lake District and Snowdon in Wales.
The team began their training with an icy walk up Shutlingsloe Hill, known as the ‘Matterhorn of Cheshire’ and have a series of walks planned as they try to get in shape.
“We’re all new to this type of challenge,” says 39-year-old Stuart Barber, “but already we are finding that walking can be the perfect stress buster and we’ll be putting in some evening walks as well, as the days get longer.”
Stuart, a technical officer with Cheshire East Council, is no stranger to the outdoors and has spent quite a few hours recently behind the wheel of a gritter tackling the snowy roads of Cheshire, but this outdoor challenge will present its own problems.
He says: “None of us are super fit, and we know this is going to test us both physically and mentally so we need to keep up the pressure.”
Stuart is fully aware of the excellent care given to hospice patients – his mother spent some time there about 10 years ago and his wife Claire is a sister on the wards.
This year is the first year Three Peaks has been included in the hospice’s annual challenge programme and the team, known as the Mottram Mountaineers, are planning to raise £3,000.
They’ve set up their own fundraising site www. justgiving.com/teams/ mottramMountaineers.
To find a fundraising challenge go to www. eastcheshirehospice. org.uk. ●● GREAT MANCHESTER RUN
Being part of Europe’s top 10k running event, will have very personal connotations for a well-known Cheshire businessman.
Whilst pounding the streets with 44,000 other runners in the Morrisons Great Manchester Run, the occasion will be a special one for Nick Bianchi, director of the well-known Macclesfield furniture store Arighi Bianchi.
Running to raise money for East CheshireHospice, Nick says: “I saw up close and personal the work of the hospice when our good friend and colleague Eric Moores spent his last few days there back in March 2010.
“It was a pivotal moment for me and the ●● STARLIGHT WALK EARLYBIRD
There’s just 10 days left to sign up for early bird entry in to this year’s Starlight Walk in aid of East Cheshire Hospice.
The family-friendly walk in the beautiful grounds of CapesthorneHall takes place on Friday, April 24 and is one of the charity’s flagship fundraising events raising more than £40,000 run has become a hugely important event in helping us raise money for the charity”.
Around 250 people run with Team Arighi Bianchi each year, making it one of the largest teams in the run.
The team have raised over £130,000 in the last four years with last year’s total of £40,000 being their best annual total yet.
Nick will have further Bianchi support on the run last year. More than 500 people took part in last year’s event and organisers are hoping to beat those figures this year with walkers able to choose their distance.
This year’s theme is ‘festivals’ so sunglasses, wellies and waterproofs are must-have accessories with prizes awarded on the night for the best outfit.
The Starlight Walk is a from his brother Robert and cousin John who are also running along with 20 store staff and an assortment of other friends and colleagues.
Nick , who is vicepresident of the Cheshire charity, is currently training hard for the May event, hoping to beat his personal best time of 47.50 minutes which he achieved two years ago.
Camilla Crockett, corporate fundraiser at the hospice said: “Year after year we are astounded at the number of people who join this team. As Arighi Bianchi’s official charity, it’s fantastic to have their continued support.”
To support the team visit their fundraising site www.justgiving.com/ Arighi-and-Bianchiand-Co-Ltd2. carnival occasion with face-painting, live music, hot food and drinks with gates opening from 6pm, well before the walk which starts at 7.30pm.
Earlybird entry costs just £7 for children and £12 for adults. To register go to www.eastcheshirehospice. org.uk/starlightwalk.
Booking forms are also available from the hospice and its charity shops.