Climb of the century

05/06/2008

TEAMS of walkers aim to simultaneously conquer the summits of the UK’s 100 most popular mountains and hills for charity this Saturday (7 June).

North East companies, Berghaus and Northumbrian Water, have joined forces to support the Trail 100 challenge to raise awareness of, and funds for, the international charity WaterAid.

Some 2,000 walkers will complete the challenge – with about 100 of them coming from throughout the North East.

And for two Northumbrian Water employees the marathon has already begun. They have set themselves a personal target of completing all the 100 peaks and both have already been on the top of more than 50.

Earlier this year Frank Bozic, aged 57, and 55-year-old Mike Rewcastle completed three snow-covered hills on three Scottish islands in just three days using only bikes and their feet and ferries for transport.

They cycled a total of 167 miles and walked 23 miles across bog, rock and hilltop visiting four islands and taking eight ferry trips.

After making a summit on Jura the two missed a ferry connection forcing them to cycle 21 miles to the other side of the island - on bikes laden with kit in just an hour and a half -to board another ferry, just catching it as the loading doors were being closed.

The WaterAid Trail 100 Challenge will see teams on the top of the peaks between noon and 2.00pm on Saturday. The 100 favourite mountains and hills were chosen by a panel of walkers, climbers and outdoor experts brought together by Trail magazine. There are 100 summits of all shapes and sizes in locations across the country and include two iconic North East peaks – the Cheviot and Roseberry Topping.

Dave Whiteley, National Chairman of the Berghaus-sponsored Trail 100 event said: “It is fantastic that this unique mountain challenge has the support of a leading international outdoor brand in the form of Berghaus and I am particularly proud that there are two North East companies backing this really important cause.”

WaterAid works to provide clean drinking water, safe sanitation and hygiene education in Africa and Asia where a child dies every 17 seconds from disease caused by dirty water. Just £15 will give one person a lasting, lifetime supply of safe water, sanitation and hygiene knowledge.

Sarah Wilson, head of marketing at Berghaus said: “Berghaus is already involved with a number of charities that directly focus on the outdoors but this initiative with WaterAid is a bit different and novel. It is a great way to celebrate the fantastic landscape that we have around us while raising much needed funds and awareness for a very important cause.”

Berghaus co-ordinates and supports a range of charity and environmental initiatives through its own Make A Difference (MAD) team. Working closely with Northumbrian Water, Berghaus is not only providing financial backing to the WaterAid Trail 100 challenge, but is also developing ideas to generate further awareness and support for the charity over the summer.
 
Climbing cylists Frank Bozic, who lives and works in Washington, and his Durham-based colleague Mike Rewcastle who lives in Winlaton Mill near Gateshead, will tackle two separate hills in the Assynt area of Sutherland on Saturday.

On their earlier three-day Scottish island assault they climbed Beinn an Oir on Jura, Beinn Tarsuinn on Arran and Ben More on Mull.

Frank said: “It has been a fantastic challenge so far and the dash across Jura when we missed the ferry was like a bike time trial! We nearly missed two other ferries too, one when we got caught up in our car in road accident traffic jam on the way north before we even got started on the bike riding.

“We travelled light and so only had multi-activity trainers instead of walking boots and adapted cycle clothing as mountain kit and vica versa.

“These challenges are a healthy and exhilarating way of highlighting the wonderful life-saving work of WaterAid. We are so fortunate to be able to take clean tap water and safe toilets for granted – for millions of people in the world that basic right is a daily matter of life and death.” 

•  Britain’s leading high altitude mountaineer Alan Hinkes who has climbed all 14 peaks in the world over 3,000 metres including Everest and K2, is also backing the charity challenge.

•  Alan, can’t complete the climb this Saturday as his daughter is getting married in the Republic of Ireland, so he popped up his favourite and local Trail 100 hill – Roseberry Topping in Cleveland - before he left.

For further information view: www.wateraidtrail100.org or contact:

Northumbrian Water Alistair Baker on 0191-301-6851 or 07711-793493
Berghaus – Chris Lines (Press Ahead) 0191-5166235 or 07971-868329