A group of Suffolk friends are to take on an epic hiking challenge to raise money for a motor neurone disease (MND) charity.
The team, which includes Abigail Masser, from Ipswich, will embark on their extraordinary attempt to scale 24 peaks in 24 hours on May 24 in support of MND charity, the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
The team are training hard (Image: Contributed)
They will be attempting to conquer 24 Lake District peaks, including iconic summits such as Scafell Pike, Helvellyn and Great Gable.
Aptly named ‘Peaks 4 a Purpose’, the challenge aims to raise both awareness and funds for the organisation, which is dedicated to fighting MND, a neuro-degenerative condition which affects several thousand individuals in the UK alone.
The 24-hour challenge is about 30 miles in total, but given the landscape – from rocky ridges to breathtaking valleys – it will be a true test of endurance.
Fynn Valley training walk (Image: Contributed)
The team have enlisted the help of Lake District company, Mountain Journeys, and will be led by experienced mountain leader, Mark Eddy.
Abigail said the team, which call themselves All4MND, are mainly from Suffolk, specifically Ipswich.
"My brother-in-law came up with all4MND last year when he and approximately 35 other retired rugby players cycled from Ipswich to Scotland," she said. "He wanted to do it as he was turning 40 and being rugby players they were touched by the story of Rob Burrow, Doddie Weir and now Ed Slater."
Training at night to get ready for the 24 hour challenge (Image: Contributed)
Anna Hall, another team member, added: “Many of us have seen first-hand the devastating effects of MND and we want to make a difference to the lives of those living with it. We want to raise awareness, raise funds and most importantly, give hope to those affected by MND.”
The team is hoping to raise £24,000, all of which will go to My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
Oliver Hall, one of the cyclists from the previous fundraising effort, said: “MND could one day affect any one of us and if we can help the fight now, others will encounter MND on a much more level playing field. As Doddie Weir said, MND is not incurable; it is underfunded.”
For more information about the challenge visit www.all4mnd.co.uk
To donate, go to www.justgiving.com/team/24peaks
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