A GROUP of supporters of St Leonard’s Hospice, York, spent two days climbing hills in the Lake District in preparation for a fundraising trek in the mountains of Nepal at the end of October.

They have all signed up for the adventure with charity trek specialists Community Action Treks (CAT), which organised the training weekend.

Based at Keswick Youth Hostel, the party spent a day on the hard climb up Grizedale Pike to simulate the conditions they will encounter in Nepal. The chairman of the hospice’s trustees, Graham Millar, was on the training weekend with his wife, Margaret, and her daughter, Lucy Robertson.

Another Trustee, Michael Sturge, and his wife, Lotti, as well as the director of fundraising at St Leonard’s, Janet Morley, and her husband Phil, are also taking part in the trek.

Janet said: “The weather was dreadful, but we all got to know each other really well – and we all got on, too! We found the walking quite challenging, but if we can survive everything the Lake District can throw at us, including the rain and wind as well as the steep slopes and dizzying ridges, we’ll manage in Nepal!’ All the participants are raising funds for the Hospice. They are all paying their own fares to and from Nepal, and for the cost of their specialised clothing and equipment, so that everything they raise will go to helping the Hospice.

Anyone who would like to sponsor them should phone the Hospice Fundraising Centre on 01904 777777.