WELL wishers gave fundraiser Suzanne Thomas a warm send off when she set off on a 43.3 mile sponsored trek across the moors last week.
Mrs Thomas covered the distance from Barnard Castle to Penrith as part of a campaign to raise £11,000 to purchase an all-terrain wheelchair for Scout volunteer Sue Baillie.
Setting off on her three-day trek on Thursday morning she said: “I’m not a hiker. I have never done a day’s hiking before. I have been training to build up, but that’s only been pavement walking.
“My dad [John Yarker] was. He only ever got me on the moors at Bowes once when he was looking for aeroplane parts. I hated it and I went to sleep on my rucksack. When I woke up, I was surrounded by aluminium parts he had found.”
“I have begged and borrowed equipment so I have all the right gear.”
Mrs Baillie’s husband Derek and son Lewis organised the route and accompanied Mrs Thomas every step of the trek.
Mrs Thomas added: “Derek and Lewis have done everything, all I had to do was walk.”
On the first day the trio walked from Barnard Castle to Langdon Beck. On day two they reached the Eden Valley before completing the final ten miles to Penrith on Saturday morning.
She said: “I think I have raised £1,800 through sponsorship and about the same again in donations.
“What has been lovely are the messages of support I’ve had from people since launching the campaign.
“People have been handing donations to me in the street such is the strength of support,” she added.
“It’s not just me that wants to make sure Sue [Baillie] gets the wheelchair, the whole of Barney does too.”
Anyone wanting to donate should visit https:// shorturl.at/c8MKB.
