Mountain Challenge for Red Cross Hikers

Hoping to bring the up and coming Red Cross Week to a successful end, a group of enthusiastic fund raisers from Ipswich will climb the highest mountain in Wales as many times as possible in 24 hours to raise money for the British Red Cross. The team in question is made up of twelve members and they hope to scale the 3560 feet (1085 metres) peak of Mount Snowdon a number of times on Friday 10th May. They hope to raise £2,000 towards the charity's national fundraising goal of £1 million in a week. This year's Red Cross Week runs from May 5 to 11.

The brainwave was the idea of Red Cross staff member Mark Bradley, who is responsible for managing the “home from hospital” service at the Red Cross in Ipswich, which helps vulnerable people adjust back to home life after a period of illness.

Red Cross hikers will be looking to conquer Snowdon

Other volunteers and adventurers include Red Cross colleagues and service users along with the landlord, chef and regulars of the Lord Nelson pub in Fore Street, Ipswich. Mark said: "This is the fourth year we have set ourselves an endurance challenge for Red Cross week and they've been getting more and more extreme. Luckily, all those taking part are complete nutcases and were really enthusiastic when I suggested the idea."

Already having displayed extreme fund raising efforts, the group walked 45 miles from Haverhill to Ipswich in 2011, and last year they climbed 24 peaks over 2,400ft in two days. This year, the group will complete the first hike to the summit of Snowdon together and then split into smaller groups to complete as many ascents as possible in the allotted time.

"Ideally, we'd like to match the current record held by an army PT instructor who completed five climbs in 21 hours carrying full army kit," said Mark. "I won't be carrying the kit, but it'll be a huge accomplishment if we can match that record. Everyone has been training hard, which is a little difficult living in a county as flat as Suffolk, but we've been doing eight or nine-hour walks most Sundays. Some days I'm really excited about the challenge; other days I dread it, but it's for a fantastic cause so I hope that the local community and the regulars at the Lord Nelson will support us and the Red Cross."

Judging by the £950,000 that was raised last year, there is every expectation that Red Cross Week could touch the £1 million mark this year. Previously, money has been used to support the charity's vital work in the UK and overseas, providing unconditional care for vulnerable people in crisis.  The Red Cross is equally active in Suffolk, where its responsibilities include short-term care in the home for adults recovering from illness or a stay in hospital, support during A&E visits, first aid courses and cover for public events, medical equipment loan, emergency response volunteers to support victims of fires, floods and other crises, and humanitarian education. There is also the small matter of the charity shops that it runs in Ipswich, Felixstowe and Woodbridge.

To sponsor the Lord Nelson Inn Snowdon Challenge, visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/nelsonsnowdon24hourchallenge.