18 gritty postal workers to take part in gruelling challenge

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Team of 18 gritty postal workers set to take part in gruelling challenge for charity

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THEY have been pounding the pavements, pathways and running tracks for months in preparation. Now a team of 18 gritty and determined postal workers from Cambridge will be putting their training to the ultimate test - by racing against the clock to climb the tallest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales.

The team from Royal Mail - who are part of Cambridge postal workers'

charity fundraising group The Red Pouches - will be racing up and down Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon all within a 24 hour period on July 25 - and all in aid of East Anglia Children's Hospice and the Arthur Rank House Hospice.

That works out at a total climb of more than 11,000ft, 26 miles of walking, a 1,182-mile round trip from Cambridge and ten hours of solid driving getting the team from mountain to mountain.

The team are Chris Welsh, Lynn McGhee, Tim Blake, Paul Blacktop, Steve Ratcliff, Peter Reynolds, Paul Taylor, Simon Jackson, Mark Pleasance, Steve Ayres, Alec Pybus, Peter Ford, Richard Brusell, Simon Crow, Andy Atkinson, Martin Binks, Matt Fisher and Steven Card.

They have had pledges of £5,280 so far, but are keen to raise as much as possible.

Getting them to each of their destinations and home again are three first class drivers Chris Clingham, Craig Abbs and Dave Roach, who will be taking to the wheel of three minibuses for a gruelling total of 23 hours of driving in one weekend (they have to get the exhausted teams home again when they finish their last mountain!)

Since 2006, The Red Pouches - made up of more than 60 staff at Royal Mail Cambridge - have raised a massive £24,000 for local charities. Last year they took part in the London to Cambridge Cycle Ride, dressed in uniform all the way.

Team leader Chris Welsh said: "This is our biggest challenge yet. We've been training hard because this is really going to take it out of us. This isn't a leisurely stroll up some of Britain's biggest mountains. This is a race and we have to make sure we complete it within 24 hours. There won't be any time for sightseeing!

"We'll be eating bananas, taking on energy drinks and snatching sleep whenever and wherever we can. But if we can achieve it and raise as much as possible for the charities then it will all be worth it.

[stokes11eg]

Well done.

[Lounge Lizard]

Well done.

They've not done it yet.

[andy2007]

No, but at least they're putting the effort in to try. That alone, deserves respect.