Fundraising family in trek for homeless
AFAMILY of fundraisers are taking on a challenge in aid of a homeless charity.
Nick Reed, 42, from Macclesfield, is a volunteer with the charity Supporting People In Need (SPIN), which runs street kitchens on Churchill Way in Macclesfield and in Manchester city centre.
He and son Declan, 19, will be joined by a group of friends to take on the Three Peaks challenge to raise money for SPIN.
Nick, who has completed the challenge before – to climb the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales in 38 hours – says the real challenge will be to ensure everyone completes it together, with some novice walkers in the group.
He said: “Last time it was just the two of us, but this time there are about 16 and not everyone is particularly fit, so we’ve been doing some training for it.
“It’s going to be pretty rough too because there will be snow at the top of Ben Nevis, making it much more difficult. It will be a real team effort.”
Nick, who lives at the Clocktower in Macclesfield, said he was encouraged to get involved with the charity after witnessing the rise in homelessness in Manchester before Christmas.
Now he is vice chairman of SPIN and his partner, Jane Ashton, is the treasurer.
He said: “It all started when they set up a homeless camp in Manchester in December, I just wanted to do something to help so started going down there with sandwiches, clothes and things, but then I got involved with SPIN and it’s all gone from there.
“We are all involved. Jane is the treasurer, my sons are members and Jane’s daughters bake cakes to take down for the homeless.
“We don’t get any financial support, it’s all through donations. This is why we do the fundraising.”
The charity has been supporting homeless people in Macclesfield for the past six weeks, running a street kitchen on Churchill Way on Wednesdays.
The other charities supported by the fundraiser are Streetwise, which also supports the homeless, and drug recovery charity Reach Out And Recover.
To make a donation go to www.gofundme. com/4ghfq-3-peaks-challenge.