Girl takes hike to save countryside
AYOUNG schoolgirl has completed a lengthy hike in the countryside - to raise the money to help protect it for other people to enjoy.
Patricia Wittbom, 11, walked from her home in Kerridge to Lyme Cage, in Lyme Park, and back again in aid of charity the Open Spaces Society.
She decided to raise money and awareness after enjoying the countryside around Macclesfield during lockdown but realising not everybody has this luxury.
And after the hike, which she took on with her step-dad John Rogers, more than £800 has been raised for the cause.
Patricia said: “During the last year of Covid lockdown I have been lucky to be able to go out each day into the countryside where we live in the Cheshire Peak District.
“I think beautiful green spaces are really important for our mental and physical health but I noticed some people don’t have access close to where they live.
”The Open Spaces Society helps preserve open green spaces and footpaths for everyone to enjoy.”
Patricia, who also enjoys karate, horse riding and art, is in year seven at Tytherington School.
Here students can take part in the ‘Tythy Challenge’, which is similar to the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and her sponsored walk was part of this.
Originally she set a target of £500 but this was easily surpassed.
Patricia also lives with mum Charlotte and her brother and sister.
John said: “Patricia does a lot of outdoors stuff, it is part of her life. But in lockdown she saw for the first time how lucky we are here, we go out of the backdoor and the countryside is there.
”She has friends and family who are not quite so fortunate, her uncle lives in the middle of Manchester and he has been stuck in his flat.
”So she wanted to do something for a charity about green, open spaces that benefited other people. The Open Spaces Society is the oldest conservation charity in the country and does great work.”
ANYONE who wants to sponsor Patricia can visit www.justgiving. com/crowdfunding/ patricia-wittbom.