Littleborough GP to take part in ski challenge

Littleborough GP, Dr Aggy York will be taking part in La Tania Escapade 2014

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Littleborough GP, Dr Aggy York will be taking part in La Tania Escapade 2014, a one day ski marathon to raise money for the University Hospital of North Staffordshire’s Trauma Unit and The Teenage Cancer Trust.

Aggy, who is a GP at Trinity Medical Centre, Littleborough will be taking part with her brother Richard Hall and her husband, Mark York.

As well as raising money for charity, the group will be doing the challenge in honour of their friend Neil Blood who died after a cycling accident this summer.

Richard attempted the challenge last year with Neil. The pair managed 30 out of 35 lifts and pledged to retry in January 2014.

Sadly, Neil was knocked off his bicycle whilst on holiday in Jersey this summer and killed. He was 42 and left a wife and three young children.

By taking part in the challenge, the group hope to raise £10,000 for their two chosen charities.

Aggy said: “The Teenage Cancer Trust was Neil's lifelong supported charity and the University Hospital of North Staffordshire's trauma unit is where my brother is a consultant in emergency medicine.”

The challenge takes place at La Tania in France and involves 35 lifts and 18 checkpoints over the three valleys of Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens in the French Alps.

The challenge will take skiers a total distance of 92km with a time of eight hours given to complete the challenge.

“We are all hard in training. You have to be able to reach speeds of 50mph to reach checkpoints so we’re all working hard at the gym” added Aggy.

Known as the 'The Three Valley Ski Area', this course is the largest linked skiable area in the world with over 600km of interconnected slopes.

Aggy added: “I am looking forward to it but you have to ski almost double the vertical height of Everest (51,000ft) so it will be hard but worth it.”

For anyone wishing to donate money, you can visit:

www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/lataniaescapade