Peak performance aim for team’s charity trek | 29 September 09

AN INTREPID group of lawyers from Ward Hadaway will be taking on one of Yorkshire’s toughest challenges for charity next month.

The 13-strong team from the law firm’s employment law department hope it will be a case of “lucky for some” when they take on the Three Peaks Challenge in aid of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation in October.

The 13 - Alex Clements, Ben Williams, Fiona Campbell, Gillian Burns, Graham Vials, Joe Thornhill, Katie Adams, Kunal Duggal, Nina Robinson, Paul Scope, Rachael McCartney, Stephen Elliott and Stuart Craig – will be pitting their wits against the formidable trio of Pen-y-ghent (2,276 feet), Whernside (2,415 feet) and Ingleborough (2,372 feet).

Setting out at six o’clock in the morning on Friday, October 2 the team hope to cover the 24.5 mile route in around 12 hours.

And as if all that wasn’t enough, the fearless crew will also be camping out the night before and the night after the trek in a display of true teamwork.

Rachael McCartney, solicitor in the employment team and leader of Ward Hadaway’s Three Peaks attempt, said: “We believe in taking on big challenges and they don’t come much bigger than the Three Peaks.

“We wanted to do this for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation because a lot of us are loyal Newcastle United supporters and fans of Sir Bobby.

“He was a true legend of the game and the work which his foundation does to help cancer sufferers is outstanding and deserves our support.”

But with a team more used to tackling tricky employment problems than 5,000-plus feet of Yorkshire hillside, what are the prospects of success?

“Joe [Thornhill] is a regular walker and Stuart [Craig] has done the walk twice before,” reveals Rachael.

“However, the first time Stuart did it, it wasn’t a success and he booked himself into a B&B to have a sleep after the first peak!”

You can sponsor the Ward Hadaway employment team’s Three Peaks trek by heading to www.justgiving.com/wardhadawayemployment