Aiming high to help repair church
A kind-hearted bus driver has tackled three of the largest mountains in Britain to help a community church in urgent need of repairs.
Alan Beck, a Stagecoach North East employee for 38 years, took on the challenge to climb Ben Nevis, in Scotland, Scafell Pike, in England, and Snowdon, in Wales, over the course of one week to raise funds to help repair damaged windows at the Holy Trinity Church, in South Hetton, which have been vandalised over the past two years.
Alan, 64, who now lives in Washington, grew up in South Hetton, and after accompanying his dad to church every week, he became a regular member of the congregation and then a church warden.
He was also confirmed and married at the church and his son and daughter were christened there.
As the roof at Holy Trinity Church is in desperate need of repair due to bad weather, £50,000 must be found for restoration work and repairs.
More than £22,000 has been raised so far, with Alan contributing £9,000 when he completed a tandem parachute jump in 2015.
Then in August last year, he attempted a coast to coast walk at more than 100 miles.
However, due to injury, he had to withdraw from the charity journey on day three.
Despite offering to return the money, he managed to raise £3,000 as everyone was still proud of what he had achieved.
He explained: “We are waiting for permission to start the roof restoration work from the DAC at the Diocese, then we can look for grants to cover the remainder of the cost.
“Unfortunately, over the last two years we have been hit with vandalism – not only the lead off the roof, which we were able to claim for – but damage to windows, so we need to raise up to £5,000 for covers to protect the windows.”
Alan has raised £3,000 of the £5,000 quoted for the church window covers and Stagecoach North East has also donated to the fundraising.
A friend of Alan’s – funeral director Andrew Grey – also supported the challenge.