An Altrincham solicitor is aiming to raise £5,000 for Cancer Research UK by climbing all 214 Lake District hills and mountains described in Alfred Wainwright’s Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells.
David Walton came up with the challenge to raise money in memory of a colleague who died from cancer last year.
The father-of-two, who works for Stockport-based Gorvins Solicitors, completed his first walk on New Year’s Day and has been aiming to do three walks per week since then.
David, who is also a governor at Stockport Academy, said: “The challenge officially began on 1 January 2016 with a climb up the ironically-named “Low Fell” and I hope to complete the exercise within the calendar year.
“According to a register maintained by the Long Distance Walkers Association, fewer than 750 people have climbed all 214 peaks, and I am hoping to add my name to the list, raising as much as I can for the charity along the way.
“The whole point of the exercise is to raise as much money as possible for Cancer Research UK. We chose to raise funds for Cancer Research UK because of fellow partner, Steven Moyle, who sadly passed away from cancer in early 2015.
“He was a much-loved character in the firm and his passing was very sad for us all, so we wanted to dedicate the charity efforts this year in his memory and raise as much as possible.”
David, who chose the Lake District for his fundraising challenge after spending a lot of time there on family trips and holidays as a child, has already secured half of his fundraising target to contribute to the vital work undertaken by the charity.
Cancer Research UK’s work to advance research is helping to save the lives of men, women and children across the North West and the UK. Every day, around 110 people are diagnosed with cancer in the North West.
Sarah Kirk, Local Fundraising Manager for Cancer Research UK in Altrincham, said: “We’d like to thank David and everyone at Gorvins Solicitors for taking on this exciting and unusual challenge.
“One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives.
“Thanks to advances in research more people are surviving than ever before, but there’s still more work to be done to help bring us one step closer to the day when all cancers are cured.”
To sponsor David, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/wallywalksthewainwrights
