Intrepid Lanes team braves Lakeland storm in charity climb

A brave band of Lanes Group plc colleagues overcame high winds and driving rain to climb one of the Lake District’s highest peaks in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The 14 Lanes employees challenged themselves against storm-force winds to reach the 931-metre summit of Skiddaw, and, in doing so, raised more than £6,000 for the cancer charity.

The team was led by Lanes Group Commercial Director Scott Norris, an experienced Lakeland walker. He said: “It was a fantastic effort, in more ways than one.

“Not only did the team overcome some very challenging conditions, but I believe it was a record amount of money raised by a single Lanes charity fundraising event.”

Macmillan Cancer Support is the Lanes charity of the year, as chosen by staff. The climbers have, so far, raised over £3,000 in personal sponsorship, which will be matched penny-for-penny by Lanes.

The climbing team was made up of personnel from a number of Lanes depots and headquarter offices.

By chance, they set off on their walk on a day when the remnants of one of the hurricanes that have battered the Caribbean and the USA had made its way across the Atlantic, and still had considerable force.

Scott Norris said: “By the time we got to the summit, the wind was very strong indeed, and visibility was very poor.

“The conditions meant we couldn’t stay very long, but we did get out our Lanes china mugs to prove we had held what we believed to be the UK’s highest Macmillan Coffee Morning of 2017.

“Everyone showed real Lanes spirit and teamwork to reach the 3,054-ft summit, and get back down safely. We all supported each other, sometimes literally! It was an achievement everyone can feel proud of.”

Lanes Group Bid Team Manager Haylie Orton typified the grit shown in completing the climb.

“It was horrendous!” she said in an email to colleagues on her return. “A massive thank you to those of you who have already sponsored us, we are all extremely grateful. To those who haven’t, you need to. Because, quite frankly, we deserve it!”

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