LPFT and LCHS staff complete Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge to raise over £8,700 for Lincolnshire NHS Charity

On Saturday 17 May, 40 members of staff from Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT) and Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) took on the gruelling Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge to raise money for Lincolnshire NHS Charity.

The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge is a 24-mile round trip route and includes 5,200 feet of ascent. It takes on the peaks of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. These hills form part of the Pennine range and encircle the head of the valley of the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

This was an incredibly difficult challenge, and although the weather on the day was beautiful, this also added to the difficulty as there was little shade on the route.

We were extremely proud of all staff on the day and blown away by the effort they all put in. We want to give a huge thank-you to all of them and everyone who has donated.

Even though lots of our climbers hadn’t previously met, they pulled together as a team and supported each other throughout the day, making new connections and keeping each other going.

LPFT Chief Executive Sarah Connery, who took part in the challenge, gave her views on the day:

“My experience was a challenge physically, but it was great day. The team camaraderie was amazing as we all struggled at different sections. Some people found it harder on the ascents and others on the descents. Along the way we shared good company, snacks and blister plasters!

“It was a hot day so keeping hydrated was a challenge. Unfortunately, I got a knee injury on the descent of Whernside which really slowed me down.

“As Chief Executive of LPFT, I really wanted to do my part, and I have the benefit of a wide network across health and care, so I felt I was in a good position to encourage my peers to donate to a good cause. I'm certainly not the fittest person, so they knew how hard the training and challenge would be for me.

“Lincolnshire NHS Charity plays a vital role in supporting both Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust and Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation NHS Trust to make a real difference to patients and service users in their care. They work hard to ensure that every penny of funds raised is spent wisely and makes a difference to local people using NHS services.

“The most enjoyable part of the day was the joy we all felt when hitting and exceeding the £5,000 fundraising target! Experiencing that feeling while taking in the views from the peaks was phenomenal. It was a beautiful clear day, and you could see for miles. The sense of achievement with your colleagues when we reached the top after all the climbing is hard to describe.

“For people who are thinking about joining us on a fundraising challenge but haven’t made that step yet, definitely have a go!”

We are thrilled to say our final fundraising total is £8,792.66! We have been blown away by the generosity of donors and the hard work of our colleagues in exceeding our £5000 target by such a large amount! A huge thank-you to everyone involved, from Lincolnshire NHS Charity.