A team from Bath-headquartered national law firm Stone King put their best feet forward to complete a gruelling 22.5km hike in the Peak District to raise funds for two charities – and more than doubled their original £1,000 target.
The seven-hour hike took place in challenging and windy conditions and included 850m of ascent.
It took place on a weekday, forming part of the firm’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) scheme under which staff are encouraged to use a day every year to support charitable causes.
The 15 walkers had pledged to raise £500 each for two charities – food bank charity The Trussell Trust and Refugee Action, which supports refugees and people seeking asylum in the UK.
So far they have collected more than £820 for The Trussell Trust and £900 for Refugee Action, while the Stone King Foundation – the firm’s charitable arm, which is run separately with a board of trustees made up of Stone King volunteers – is to award an additional £250 per charity, so taking the total to more than £2,200.
Stone King senior associate Nicole Reed, who organised the hike and is a member of Stone King’s CSR team, said: “It was a great day, we had a good mix of people from all levels and ages and from across our national offices.
“Some had joined during lockdown and others I hadn’t seen in a long time, so it was great from a social point of view, as well as being an opportunity to fundraise.”
The team set out from Edale, at the start of the Pennine Way, climbing steeply onto the southern edge of Kinder Scout.
After the team’s first summit of Grindslow Knoll they progressed along Kinder’s southern gritstone edge. The second – and highest summit – was Kinder Low at 633m, from where they crossed the head of the valley and passed Jacob’s Ladder and on over moorland.
They then passed a third summit before climbing to Rushup Edge and The Great Ridge, with a final steep climb to the summit of Mam Tor before descending back into Edale to complete the circuit.
Nicole added: “The most challenging part was facing the final climb. We were all getting tired with aching muscles and feet but there was great camaraderie and we encouraged each other along, even though we were almost blown off Mam Tor.”
The team was helped by guides from Peak Walking Adventures, paid for by the firm, who recounted the history and geology of the national park along the way.
Richard Tower of Peak Walking Adventures added: “It was great walking with such a determined team, who exceeded their challenge and remained positive and cheerful throughout, even as they faced their last steep challenge to the summit of Mam Tor.
“It was a privilege to spend the day with them."
Anyone wishing to donate can visit https://www.justgiving.com/team/SKCSRHIKERS
Stone King, which employs more than 230 people across its offices in Bath, Bristol, Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds and London, is a national leader in the charity, faith and education sectors.
