A group of eight friends from Leeds have made every step count by completing the iconic Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge twice in less than 24 hours, raising more than £9,000 for the palliative and bereavement support charity, Sue Ryder.
Organised by NHS worker Chris Keighley, from Pudsey, the walk was a way of remembering two very special people – his mum Elaine Keighley and Norman Tucker, his best friend’s dad.
Both received expert care from Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice in Headingley in their final days.
Chris, 38, explained: “My mum had cancer for the best part of six years and in her final 12 months she visited Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice on two occasions: one for pain management and relief, and one when she sadly passed away.
“The day my mum went into the hospice was one of the worst days of my life, but from the second we stepped in we just received absolutely amazing care. It wasn’t just centred around my mum – it was us a family too.
“It was a horrendous time, but the people at Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice were just so lovely.”
His best friend, Simon Tucker, who also took part in the trek, also has a personal connection to the hospice. His Dad, Norman, passed away almost 20 years ago and also spent his final days with Sue Ryder.
“As a family, we’ll always be in debt to Sue Ryder, and the hospice in particular,” Chris added. “In that difficult time, we wanted to think of a challenge to say thank you and hopefully raise a few quid. We’re all Yorkshire folk, we’ve all done the Three Peaks, and I just said ‘right, we’re going to do it twice!’
“I reached out to my friends and they all got back to me and said they wanted to be involved. The idea was that we’d go around twice, in a loop, in under 24 hours. But, to be honest, we knew that even if it took more than 24 hours, we’re weren’t going to stop until it was done.
“It was the best part of 51 miles – a bit of a tough one. It’s like walking from Leeds to Manchester in a day. And we had all weathers, from glorious sun to torrential rain!
“I like to think this challenge was some friends going out for a good long walk together in memory of two great people.”
In the weeks leading up to the fundraiser, Chris and his friends embarked on a series of training hikes, building up their distance with some 10 and 11-mile walks, before tackling a single loop of their eventual route through the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park, taking in the three peaks of Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-ghent.
Having raised £9,300, Chris is keen to encourage other people to take on a challenge to raise vital funds for his local Sue Ryder hospice, which provides expert palliative care and support for people who are living with a life-limiting condition.
He concluded: “I’m absolutely thrilled we’ve managed to raise more than £9,000! I’d encourage other people to think about taking on an epic fundraiser – but you’ve got to respect the challenge and respect what it will bring. It’s a challenge for a reason.”
Clare Humphreys, community fundraiser at Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice said: “We’re so grateful to Chris and his friends for taking on this incredible feat and for raising such an impressive amount. The money raised will ensure that we can keep providing vital and compassionate care to those who need it.”
For more information about Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice, visit their website.
To find out more about fundraising for Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice, including joining or setting up a fundraising group, contact wheatfields.fundraising@sueryder.org
You can support Chris by making a donation here on his online JustGiving page.