A “magnificent seven” bakery staff are taking on an epic challenge to raise money for four charities close to their hearts.
Village Bakery staff Wrexham who are taking part in the Three peaks challenge to raise moneu for charity; Pictured (Front L/R) are Olly Harris, Charlie Reoch, Phil Bennett, Jaz Robinson and Emma Thomas (Back) Tom Kellaway and Florence Roberts . Picture Mandy Jones
The adventurous group from the Village Bakery in Wrexham will be aiming to go from sea level to conquer the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales, starting at 5pm on Saturday, June 22.
To complete the Three Peaks Challenge, they will need to Snowdon (1,085 metres), Scafell Pike in the Lake District (978 metres) and Ben Nevis (1,344 metres) in less than 24 hours.
As well as the climbing, it will involve more than 10 hours in a minibus, eating at strange times, walking through the night and hiking over rough ground.
By the time it’s over they will have travelled over 450 miles, climbed over 5,200 feet and trekked for 25 miles.
Account manager Tom Kellaway, 27, will be raising money for the St Giles Hospice in Stafford which cared for his grandmother, Mrs Agnes Rotchell, in her final days.
Tom said: “Hospices are remarkable places and my Nan received wonderful care in her local hospice.
“They were fantastic with my Nan at the time and basically made her comfortable right through until the end of her life.
“We’re also going to be raising money for British Heart Foundation in honour of one of our colleagues, Gary Walters, who suffered heart attack.
“He’s back in work part time but it was something that brought home the importance of supporting this particular charity too.”
Florence or Floss Roberts, 27, who works in the new product development department, has a good idea what she’s letting herself in for because she did the Three Peaks Challenge six years ago.
She’s raising money for the Midland Air Ambulance which scrambled after her 58-year-old father, Richard Roberts, fell ill whilst driving a tractor on the family farm, Pentre David, in Hengoed, near Oswestry.
Floss said: “Some of it is in the darkness or late at night when you’re lacking in sleep. “It is a really hard challenge but if you’ve got a good base fitness then it’s doable. I’ll
try to help the others who haven’t done it before.”
Also among those taking part is quality control manager Charlie Reoch who has been inspired to embark on a series of fund-raising challenges by her 10-year-old cousin who suffers from a rare, life-limiting condition.
Little Lilly Day, who lives in Deal, in East Kent, is one of fewer than 30 people in the world who have been diagnosed an uncommon variant of the already rare condition, Ataxia-Telangiectasia or A-T.
It’s a degenerative multi-system disorder that affects the brain, immune system and increases the risk of cancers. There is no cure or treatment.
Charlie, 25, said: “I ran the Village Bakery Half Marathon earlier this year but this is the first time I’ve done anything quite like the Three Peaks Challenge.
“It’s going to be one of the most physically challenging things I think I’ve ever done but it’s in a very worthwhile cause.”
The other staff members taking part are Olly Harris, Phil Bennett, Jaz Robinson and Emma Thomas.
Managing director Robin Jones said: “We have a wonderful, big-hearted team working here at the Village Bakery.
“They go above and beyond the call of duty in everything that they do and I am proud of the Magnificent Seven who will be taking on the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge.
“It’s going to be tough but the they are a determined bunch and we all wish them well.”
