Celebration Of Life Sponsored Walk July 2006

In 2006 Jan organised a sponsored walk to raise money for two hospital units. Thanks to her determination and help of friends we raised just over £ 10,000!

The story of the walk is below - the pictures are thumbnails - to see a picture you are interested in just click on the thumbnail. When you have finished looking at the picture click the 'back' arrow ( usually on the top left hand corner of your browser window )
Jan says: In early April I celebrated reaching the immature age of 40 whilst my lungs, although they have been mine for the last 10 years, might be a little older. I would not have achieved this age without three very important factors. Firstly a double lung transplant 10 years ago for which I am completely indebted to the donor family, secondly for the expert care and support of the Freeman Hospital Transplant Unit for the last 14 years and thirdly the constant support and care from Regional Cystic Fibrosis Unit at Seacroft Hospital, which sometimes feels like my second home.
To celebrate reaching 40 my friends and family did a sponsored walk to raise as much money as possible for the two hospital units. The Three Peaks was the planned route. The plan was to stop in or near Horton in Ribblesdale on Friday 30 June 2006 and meet at a local pub for a pre-walk drink. The weather was kind, and the warm night ( rare in North Yorkshire ) enabled us mingle outside, meeting friends not seen in a while and having a deserved end of week drink. Some of us had travelled extensive distances to what must have seemed like the ends of the earth ( especially Jannie2 )
The night before


Barbara and Joan


Sean and David enjoy a snifter

Start outside the
Pen-y-ghent Cafe (early)


Jan gives pep talk


The first group get
ready to set off


Jan Sue and David

 The next morning the one peakers pulled themselves out of bed in what seemed like the middle of the night ( OK 5:15! ) to find a glorious morning, filled with bright sunshine, birdsong and the distant sound of lambs on the hillsides. We congregated at the Pen-y-ghent cafe, in the middle of Horton in Ribblesdale, and after booking in with Sue, recieving a number, and taking a pep talk from Jan, we set off in a number of groups to attack the first summit! I was suffering from a lack of my early morning cup of tea - and this probably resulted in me being slower up the first peak than would normally have been the case.
The climb up Pen-y-ghent starts nicely enough as a ramble down the main street in Horton, then becomes a pretty track which winds throughback lanes and farmyards. It is easy at this stage to kid yourself that you are not at the start of a 12 hour walking marathon, however as the track rises, reality can be denied no longer. Pen-y-ghent is the smallest of the three peaks at 694m or 2276ft, and just over an hour after we had started to climb we reached the top. About half way up, the fresh morning air could no longer counter the internal body heat generated, and I became glad of my new walking trousers ( many thanks Pat and Paul ) which converted into shorts via a couple of zips
The start of the climb


The road to Hull


Tim Davies celebrates 1 peak
( I think! )
I reached the top of Pen-y-ghent with Felicity, Richard and Helene. We had super views from the top - although personally I tried not to look at the distant hills which were to be my next port of call. Felicity and Helene decided at this point that discretion really was the better part of valour, and took the bridal path back to the village far below. Top marks to Helene - ascending peaks really isn't her thing. Richard and I meanwhile set off across the energy sapping, boggy and undulating landscape towards the first checkpoint.

Dead Sarah!


Tim Shackleton shows a leg

 The bog, whilst not quite as trecherous as the last time I managed to immerse myself in it, was still heavy going - but with the help of Richard, long conversations about stuff, and with the recuperative powers of Kendle Mintcake - the first checkpoint eventually hove into view. We welcomed it as two round the world sailors would welcome their first sight of dry land. Uncle Maurice and Richard Wray handed out bananas and plenty of water. In the heat of the day, I had already drunk all the water I started off with so the resupply was essential. Meanwhile, Tim and Sarah, as backmarkers, arrived, and Sarah took the opportunity for some impromptue sunbathing.
A mere three miles down the road we came upon the party atmosphere of checkpoint 2: people were drinking; people were eating; people were laughing - obviously we were at the wrong checkpoint!
Jan glows brightly
at checkpoint 2


The Merry Band of one peakers
don't know what is about to hit them


...and neither do Paul and Dave
two of our intrepid two peakers!

David gives a lift to Izzy
the youngest participant
at checkpoint 2
Checkpoint 2 photos
Checkpoint 2


Roger takes advantage of running water


One Peakers set off from CP2
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