Walk put through its paces
Fundraising staff braved the rain as they made their final route-checks ahead of their biggest charity event of the year.
Ruth Barber and Kerri Coote hiked through the rain to complete the full 18 miles of the Chiltern Three Peaks Challenge, organised by Iain Rennie Hospice at Home.
But the Tring-based organisation is still looking for more walkers to sign up and raise money for the charity.
Fundraisers have a choice of three different distances - five, nine or 18 miles - at the event on September 19, which helps to fund nurses to go to the homes of people with life-limiting illnesses.
Ruth, the charity's events fundraising manager, said: "Kerri and I had a great day despite the weather and we were really proud of our achievement when we reached the top of Ivinghoe Beacon.
"We aren't particularly fit but we finished in under eight hours which included a stop for lunch.
"The paths on the Ridgeway are well-established and we were surprised to find that the rain had little effect under foot and the views were amazing, even on a grey day."
The walk takes fundraisers from Princes Risborough to Wendover, where they can see views across the Chiltern Hills from two peaks, Whiteleaf Cross and Coombe Hill.
IRHH will be running a barbecue in Wendover so walkers can recharge their batteries.
Walkers can then choose whether to walk to Ivinghoe Beacon to complete the full 18 miles or be taken by bus by event sponsors Arriva to Tring to complete the final peak or back to Princes Risborough to collect their cars.
Ruth continued: "We are pleased to report that the route has been checked and there are still places available for local people to take part and help us support the increasing number of local patients calling on our services."
The challenge helps IRHH to raise the 4.8million it needs each year to help the 1,000 patients and their families it supports.
Only nine per cent of the hospice's funding comes from the Government and has decreased during the last year, despite patient numbers increasing by five per cent across the borough and Bucks between July 2009 and July 2010.
To enter the walk, simply fill in the form opposite and send it to Iain Rennie Hospice at Home, 52a Western Road, Tring, Herts HP23 4BB.
Entrants can also fill in the form online at www.c3peaks.com
If you cannot make the walk, you can still contribute by sponsoring Gazette reporter Jonathan Saunders as he completes the full 18 miles.
Our newshound, who will be joined by his adorable dog Bruno for the opening stages of the walk, needs sponsorship to reach his 150 fundraising target.
So far, Jonathan has been sponsored 50.
Sponsor him and his chocolate labradinger by visiting www.justgiving.com/jonathan-saunders
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Weather for Tring
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -7 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -6 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
