Apartment Owners at Churchill’s Eliot Lodge in Ashbourne recently came together to celebrate the achievement of 71-year-old Ian Cawthra, after he completed a 171-mile hike along the Pennine Bridleway to raise an impressive £2,145 for the Derby Mountain Rescue Team.
As an experienced hiker and Mountain Rescue Team supporter, Ian had been planning to take on the Pennine Bridleway for a while, as it passes through many of his favourite spots and would also be his biggest non-stop multi-day challenge to date. In late June he completed the entire route over 11 consecutive days, despite some heavy rain making things difficult during the first week! He was delighted to be met by family and friends for the last few miles on the final day, followed by a surprise welcome party back at Eliot Lodge.
Derby Mountain Rescue Team member and Fund Raising Officer Paul Barlow and Supporters Group Manager, Pete Walker were presented with the cheque by Ian and members of the Churchill team on Wednesday 14th August at a special coffee morning to mark the achievement. Ian’s individual fundraising was topped up by £1,000 from the Churchill Foundation, Churchill’s own charity, to boost the total amount going to this extremely deserving cause. Paul Barlow commented that “It is only through the fund raising efforts of Ian and others that we can raise the £45,000 a year, it takes to keep the Team operational all year round.”
Looking back on the walk Ian said: “I’d been wanting to take on this challenge for a while, and I also wanted to help out the Derby Mountain Rescue Team with their fundraising for a new HQ building near Derby. It’s a fantastic organisation run entirely by volunteers and providing a vital service to so many people in the local area, so it’s nice to have been able to do my bit towards their fundraising. I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported me.”
He adds: “Since moving to Eliot Lodge I’ve had more time to enjoy long distance walking and I’ve done some great routes in Scotland and the Pennines, but nothing with a schedule as challenging as this. My walking keeps me fit, I love exploring the great outdoors and I also enjoy the social side of it. I’ve made lots of friends through the Rescue Team and at a local Friday walking group that my wife and I meet up with every week. I do have a few more long distance routes in mind for the future, and certainly no plans to hang up my walking boots any time soon!”