Over The Hill mob are on the march

The six, who are all relatively inexperienced walkers, are due to step out on their 166-mile trek tomorrow.

Starting at the Asda superstore, at Monks Cross Shopping Park, York, they will head for Scarborough via the Wolds Way.

They will then walk along the Cleveland Way to Saltburn, before heading back to Helmsley and York via the Ebor Way.

The group, called Over The Hill, hope to arrive back at Asda - which is one of the group's main backers - two weeks after setting off.

All the effort is in aid of York special needs project SNAPPY.

Project leaders said they need £30,000 to run the senior section for a year - with the marching mums hoping to raise £25,000 of it.

Spokeswoman Rose Woodhead said: "I wanted to do something for charity so spoke to some friends and got Over The Hill together. We decided on a walk, and thought why not do a real walk, and decided on the route we are taking. We then had to choose a cause. We all have teenage children, and wanted to help a charity that worked with teenage children. We had read about SNAPPY's situation in the Evening Press so we decided to try and help them."

Rose, of Holtby, near York, said the response from local people and businesses so far has been "excellent."

She said: "We don't know yet how much we have raised, but things are going well.

"We just want people to keep donating and sponsoring us. We would like to raise as much as we possibly can for this vital York charity." Anne Pemberton, SNAPPY project manager, said: "Everyone here is completely bowled over by what the group are doing - none of us could believe it when they told us what they were planning and now it is nearly time for them to set off. The effort they are making for us is absolutely brilliant, please give them your support."

To sponsor Over The Hill, phone Rose on 01904 489630 or email r.woodhead@btinternet.com.

SNAPPY can be phoned on 01904 640562.

Updated: 14:47 Friday, March 01, 2002