A parish priest is preparing to follow in Alfred Wainwright’s steps this Bank Holiday and walk the coast to coast from St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay to raise funds for Kirkwood Hospice and children’s work at her church.
Every year Karen Nicholl, vicar of St Mary’s Gomersal in the Huddersfield Episcopal Area, sets herself a charity challenge.
It has become her “Way of Life” and in the past, events have included 5 and 10k runs for Cancer Research and last year she took on the Race for Life Muddy Event with her two daughters, Nikki and Kelly and friend, Sandra, and raised over £500. Pictured right.
But this year, they are taking the challenge up a notch by embarking on the 198 miles walk over 14 days – with tents on their backs – as they intend to camp 11 out of the 14 nights.
Karen has enrolled her son, Sam, husband, Kevin and his brother Adie for the challenge and they will leave Gomersal on May 27 until June 10. Any funds raised will be split between the children’s work at St Mary’s and the hospice where is a volunteer chaplaincy one morning a week and you can sponsor Karen here:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/karen-nicholl
Said Karen: “The walk itself is following in the path of Alfred Wainright and over the last few months I have been avidly reading his books and helping to plan the route as well as practicing for the walking.
“We have steadily built it up - included walking up Ingleborough and Wernside with full packs and extending these walks to make them up to 15 miles each.
“The scenery has been amazing and I am looking forward to the opportunity to spend 14 day walking through a diverse landscape and immersing myself in its beauty and creativity.
“I’m not so sure about the camping bit though and carrying our homes on our backs – especially if we get more rain,’ she added.