Pendleside walkers hit a new high in Three Peaks challenge

A member of Pendleside’s maintenance staff Dave Dickson completed the hospice’s sponsored Yorkshire Three Peaks walk in an impressive 7 hours and 15 mins.

Former soldier Dave, 56, who has worked at the hospice for the last 18 months, led the way for the 22 sponsored walkers who raised around £6,000.

Jo Applegate, fundraiser, said: “Dave was by far the fastest of our walkers, in fact he jogged some of the 24.5 miles course which takes in Pen-Y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, so it was a huge achievement.”

Jo added: “It was our best supported Three Peaks challenge and we already have had a dozen entries for our next Three Peaks challenge which is taking place on Saturday, September 4. I would urge any keen walkers to take part and support the hospice.

“Everyone who took part this time deserves a huge pat on the back. It’s a difficult walk at the best of times but the warm weather made it even tougher although everyone finished with a suntan!”

Dave told his sponsors that if he achieved the walk in under eight hours they would have to up the ante and he ended the day raising more than £1,000 himself.

His colleague in the maintenance department, retired police sergeant and Burnley Rugby Club committee member Mick Nichols, 58, also took part with his daughter Katie, 28, and the two of them raised around £600.

They completed the course in 9 hours and 50 minutes despite Katie having to take painkillers after suffering a thigh injury on the first leg of the challenge.

Mick said: “Dave’s effort was tremendous but everyone who took part did a fantastic job.”

Rachel Hadfield was one of two of the walkers who celebrated their birthdays on the day.

Since then it has been back to work for Dave and Mick who have had a busy year during the pandemic first helping to convert the day services area into eight extra bedrooms as well as carry out renovation work on the hospice’s 10 charity shops during the lockdowns.

Mick said: “Since retiring from the police I have really enjoyed my time at Pendleside. It’s a great team we work with and you feel you are contributing to such a good cause even though we have been faced with a lot of projects because of Covid-19.”

Anyone who is interested in taking on the Three Peaks in aid of Pendleside in September should contact Jo at [email protected] or ring 01282440136.