Hawthorn Leisure chief, Gerry Carroll, and iron lady Rosie Swale Pope MBE will lead 18 of the company’s colleagues across the Yorkshire Three Peaks on Saturday (September 23), aiming to raise £3,000 for the Willow Foundation.
The 12-hour, 24-and-a-half-mile trek might be a tough challenge for the pubco’s ramblers, but less so for the global adventurer and best-selling author, the only person to have undertaken an epic solo, unsupported run around the world over nearly five years.
Hawthorn Leisure has already raised £5,770 for the Willow Foundation this year, including a Tour de Last Orders bike ride. In a bid to take its total to morethan £10,000, it is not only taking on the Three Peaks, but will also be donating 10p from every pint of the Special Daze charity brew sold at its cask ale festival, running from today until October 30 across 73 of its pubs.
Gerry Carroll said his team were looking forward to the event and had been training hard. “There are, though, some really big personal challenges for some of our team who have never walked so far in their lives, and it is a huge testament to them that they are giving up their weekends, probably not to mention the soles of their feet, for such a good cause.”
Rosei Swale Pope added: “I was grateful when Hawthorn supported me during one of my recent feats. I was delighted to support them in their quest to support the Willow Foundation, who do the most amazing job providing young adults with terminal illnesses with special days out, creating memories with their families.
“I’m used to being on my own, though, so I’m not sure how I’ll handle this challenge, or the promised end party!”
As the fundraisers walk Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside, the company’s pubs will be appealing to locals to make the miles worth it, raising as much money as possible.
The Willow Foundation is the only UK charity supporting seriously ill 16- to 40-year-olds by providing unique and positive special days. Since 1999, it has fulfilled more than 14,000 special days for young adults living with life-threatening conditions, such as cancer, motor neurone disease and cystic fibrosis.
