Heywood girls to tackle Trans Pennine Challenge

Fiona Smith and friend Sarah Byrne will attempt to complete the epic Trans Pennine 100km Challenge for Heywood Youth Link

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Two young Heywood women are preparing for a gruelling 100km hike to raise money for a youth charity.

Fiona Smith and friend Sarah Byrne will attempt to complete the epic Trans Pennine 100km Challenge for Heywood Youth Link.

The demanding walk will be completed alongside 1,500 other challengers on Saturday 22 June between Didsbury and Sheffield and the girls expect to face a tough challenge.

“It is a gruelling non-stop walk through the day and night,” they said.

“The distance will test both our physical and mental capabilities and push us to the limits of our stamina.”

Fiona is no stranger to gruelling charity tasks having raised nearly £5,000 for Dementia UK and Help for Heroes when she trekked to Mount Everest Base Camp last year.

She said completing the challenges allows her to focus – whilst also being a lot of fun.

I got a lot out of doing Base Camp,” she said.

“You have got have challenges and personal goals – nobody’s got a secure job any more but if you have these personal goals you have something to focus on.

“We have a lot of fun doing it as well, so it’s a selfish reason as well!

“Getting people together and organising everything is really good fun.”

Sarah was among Fiona’s sponsors for the 19-day trek and now joins her as they bid to raise £800 for Heywood Youth Link.

They hope to help the volunteer-run centre, which provides a safe space, training and mentoring for young people aged 10 and above, pay for a new music studio.

Fundraising so far has involved raffles, bake sales, bag-packing at Asda and a coffee morning, while distribution company CFT, of Green Lane, Heywood have sponsored the pair.

Cousins Luke and Chloe Smith, aged 11 and 12 respectively, also helped with a sponsored walk of their own on Easter Monday.

Luke and Chloe, while not allowed to take part in the Trans Pennine Challenge because they are under 16, raised £87 for the cause after their ten-mile walk.

Jenny Kennedy, of Heywood Youth Link, said: “I have a principle that staff at Youth Link go the extra mile with our young people, so I am grateful to all who are walking these miles to support this unique charity and its work.”

To sponsor the girls email fionasfundraising@gmail.com