If you’ve visited Ullswater you’ll be familiar with its stunning, rugged scenery. It was the perfect backdrop on a bright September morning for a hike in aid of Leukaemia UK, a charity that works tirelessly to help those across Britain.
Through ground-breaking research and care, it helps those affected by blood cancers, including leukaemia, which is now one of the most common types of cancer in the UK.
One of those being treated for leukaemia is our colleague Donna Skidmore, who is currently undergoing a stem cell transplant and we’re delighted to say she’s on the road to recovery.
As you can appreciate, her situation meant the team wanted to do something to help, so we were only too happy to don suitable footwear when our technical manager Chris Tordoff suggested a sponsored hike as our team event.
After unanimous agreement, we met for a hearty breakfast on a glorious Friday morning recently, before travelling to Ullswater. After catching a bus from Pooley Bridge to Glencoyn, we headed off into the stunning landscape for the demanding 13.1-mile hike around the lake.
While all of us were determined to complete the walk, we were unsure of what lay ahead when we headed out at 11.15am. Coincidentally, Donna had come out of hospital the night before following her treatment, something that reminded us of the hope that Leukaemia UK’s work provides and the reason for our hike.
For nearly six hours we made our way through the wonderful landscape, climbing over rocks, up steep inclines and walking along ledges with drops high enough to cause serious injury if you slipped.
As the team was made up of experienced walkers and complete novices, everyone helped motivate each other until we reached the finish at around 5pm – just in time for a well-earned drink in a nearby pub.
While everyone at Ardent put the “legwork” in, the day would not have been a success if it wasn’t for all the support and donations we received. If you are one of those who donated money, we would like to say a heart-felt thank you.
Your donation helped us raise more than the £2,500 target, something we will be proud to pass on to Leukaemia UK. If you would still like to donate to the charity you can do so by visiting our Just Giving website and click “give now”.
In addition to the donation to Leukaemia UK, we will continue to support the two charities we are proud to raise money for. These are our local Citizens Advice Bureau and the charity Toilet Twinning, which provides loos to families living in poverty, helping them to avoid preventable diseases.
