Progress Lifeline raises £3,395 from their Yorkshire Three Peaks charity walk for Rochdale Dog Rescue

A huge well done to our Progress Lifeline and Progress Housing Group colleagues who defeated the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge this weekend. The team completed a gruelling 25 mile hike to raise money for the Rochdale Dog Rescue. The 25 mile hike includes a 5,500 feet of ascent over Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough – our fantastic team did it in just 12 hours and raised an amazing £3395 for the deserving charity.

The team also used a Progress Lifeline GPS Footprint device on the walk, which tracked their location throughout as an extra safety measure. This was linked to our Alarm Response Centre and the SOS button was tested and alarms received – to find out more about our Footprint device visit our webpage: www.progresslifeline.org.uk/footprint

Here’s what happened throughout the 12 hour challenge;

• The team set off from the start point at 7:26am in the dark
• The day started with thick Yorkshire mist and torrential rain but thankfully this soon cleared
• However the team still faced winds of up to 30mph throughout the whole 12 hours
• They arrived at the 1st trig point at Pen-y-Ghent at 8:25am and everyone was delighted to have made the first peak in good time after a scramble to the summit
• The walk continued and after a further hard 5 hours, they arrived at the second trig point at around 1.35pm in Whernside. Shortly after this they met their support team in Chapel-Le-Dale with a set of fresh supplies and warm dry socks for the final ascent.
• The next part became really tricky and dangerous as there was a footpath diversion. This diversion had soon become a mud bath with the rain - and the downwards path was quickly coined the ‘death slide’. The ascent up this treacherous path made progress very slow and tiring especially in the late stages of the day.
• Nearly 4 hours later they arrived at the third trig point around 5:15pm in Ingleborough. Everyone was relieved to have made it here, but it was now going dark! The final leg back to base was again a challenge and it was time to turn on the torches so they could see their way ahead
• There was a real team effort to get back within the 12 hour time frame. Some of the team picked up the pace, and others even ran, despite painful blisters on their feet and heels.
• They made it! The team finally all made it back to base by 7:26pm - completing the challenge within the 12 hours. Some of team even managed to get back a little earlier in 11hrs 37 mins.
• After sighs of relief, the team had a well-earned drink and ‘sit-down’ in the local pub, before returning to the campsite. Here the support crew had made an amazing chilli and lovely hot stew to help them refuel their depleted energy stores, which was very much needed and hugely appreciated.

Loraine Simpson, Director of Services, Progress Lifeline said,
“The challenge walks always give you a great sense of personal achievement, but what I saw on this walk, was an amazing display of team work and supporting each other along the way. Especially on the treacherous parts, as we began to tire and the dark started to set back in. I want to say a special thank you to the support crew; Chrissie Jones, (control centre team leader) and her friend Jo, and their husbands who were there to provide warm clothing and food and to cheer us on. I feel very proud to have helped to organise this year’s challenge – please do not under estimate how much of an impact this amount of money will have on the volunteers at the Rochdale Dog Rescue. They work tirelessly to help these dogs and I know this challenge will go part way to helping them continue their great work. I’ve cleaned my boots and I’m ready for the next challenge…who’s with me?!”

Many charities have been affected by the Covid pandemic not least animal charities and their ability to re-home pets. It was also World Mental Health Day on the same day that the walk took place. Pets are really good for our mental health especially in these times of Covid19. Pets can all help with alleviating stress, anxiety, depression and feelings of loneliness– and that’s why we wanted to help out this local charity.

Congratulations to the team who took apart and thank you to all those who have supported this year’s challenge.

Watch the short video of the route tracker here: https://youtu.be/88MtWoinRrI