A team of 17 members of staff from North Herts Council including Managing Director Anthony Roche and two Service Directors, have tackled the Yorkshire Three Peaks, with the fundraising pot currently at over £8,000!
The Public Sector Challenge took place on Friday, 6 September, and was a 24-mile (38.6km) round trip to be completed within 12 hours in the Yorkshire Dales National Park in aid of Cancer Research UK, with the council’s first finishers completing the course in 11 hours 15 minutes.
Anthony Roche (pictured above right), North Herts Council’s Managing Director, said: “We knew it was going to be hard, but it was much tougher than we thought. Whilst we had all been training beforehand, it was hard to prepare for the relentlessness of the terrain. It was a great day and we are so proud of ourselves for raising so much money. We’ve helped raise vital funds for research into cancer, which one in two of us will develop in some form. It’s a fantastic event which brings public sector workers together from across the country, and it was great to meet some of them on the walk.”
Everyone Active, our leisure contractor, kindly sponsored the entry fees for the team. Chris Williams, Everyone Active’s Contract Manager across North Herts, said: “We are thrilled to celebrate our local council as they return from their magnificent feat. Their incredible effort will make a real, practical difference, improving awareness for those directly and indirectly affected by cancer and raising funds to facilitate lifesaving research.”
The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge includes 1,585m (5,200ft) of ascent and takes on the peaks of Pen-y-Ghent (694 metres), Whernside (736 metres) and Ingleborough (723 metres).
The annual event is in its infancy but is sponsored by the likes of the Local Government Association. An event organiser said: “Local government is always up for a challenge but the last few years have been more challenging than most. Annually we are asking the public sector to come together by taking on a challenge and by doing so raise money for Cancer Research UK.”
Staff paid for their own travel and accommodation.
It’s not too late to donate – any amount will help: North Herts Hikers (cancerresearchuk.org)
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