On 16th June, determined trekkers set off from Manchester at 7am on a journey to the Peak District, to walk in the footsteps of the Mass Trespassers. 14 hours, 3 mountains, and 24-miles of hiking later they returned victorious!
The 81-strong team consisted of fundraising groups from We Love MCR's generous partners and friends: Manchester City Council's Leadership Team and colleagues, Softcat, JMW Solicitors, tp bennett, Manchester Law Society, MCRactive, Manchester Trainee Solicitors Group, Far East Consortium, Quay Street Productions and Roc Technologies.
We’re delighted to say that their fundraising efforts have reached £30,000+ as it stands! The funds raised will be used to support our grant programmes for ambitious communities and young people across Manchester in 2023.
The route re-traced the steps of “The Kinder Scout Trespassers”. These working-class Mancunians put their liberty on the line to establish the “right to roam”. You can walk on the Peak District’s hills because of their bravery 90 years ago - 5 of them served prison sentences before they won their campaign.
After a thorough briefing by our expert guides from Pure Outdoors, and a motivational reminder of the importance of this fundraising challenge for We Love MCR by our ambassador Yvonne O’Malley, the walkers made their way through a blazing heatwave as they took on the first peak, Kinder Scout, at 2,087ft.
The heat persisted as they undertook the 10-mile hike to Mam Tor’s 1,696ft summit, fueled by our refreshments checkpoint at the picturesque Rambler’s Inn in Edale. Thanks to the Manchester Market’s team for their donation of fresh fruit and water top-ups for the trekkers, which we recycled and re-used!
The walkers made their way to the third peak of with incredible determination, and when in touching distance of Wyn Hill’s 1,516ft summit the clouds came and gave them some much-needed cover for the final leg of their trek to Hathersage.
Everyone who finished the challenge completed it comfortably in under 12 hours - which was the benchmark for the Challenge itself - an incredible effort on a very hot day. Special congratulations go to Manchester Law Society’s David Anderson who made it back in just 9 hours!
The sheer number of smiling faces we saw on our trekkers throughout the event, and after it finished, told us just how much everybody got out of the day. Happiness that only increased from participants when they realised there was a pub at the end of the journey...
We can't wait to return with our next endurance challenge for our fantastic Corporate Partners. We don't know where it will be just yet, but we do know it'll be a great opportunity for many more fundraisers to make a difference to Manchester's ambitious communities and young people!