A BUSINESS owner is to take on a gruelling 100-mile challenge to help vulnerable children in North Yorkshire, following her own heart-breaking experience.

Catherine Adamson, from Huntington, York, will be setting off this weekend on the start of a seven-day trek, which will see her walking the entire length of the Cleveland Way, wild camping along the way.

She will be raising money for The Island, which supports young people aged between eight and 13 in York who are struggling to cope at home, at school, or in the wider community.

She will also be raising money for SASH, which works to prevent youth homelessness in York, North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire.

Catherine was motivated to embark on her mission to mark her tenth anniversary in business, by giving something back to the community and charities close to her heart.

Several years ago, Catherine and her husband, Bill Adamson, adopted two children, but sadly it didn’t work out. The couple felt the children were in desperate need of more professional support for past trauma and resulting mental health issues which wasn’t available to them.

After a two-year adoption process, the couple had to make the agonising decision to end the adoption.

Catherine now wants to make sure other people avoid the heartbreak they encountered by supporting local charities offering help to young people.

She said: “Four years ago my husband and I were totally devastated by the loss of two children because of adoption disruption.

“It was clear to us that the support needed by vulnerable children was just not available. There was no money and no urgency to the long-term support that was needed.

“I can’t do anything now for the children we lost, but I want to try and make a difference to the lives of other children and young people. I want to try and prevent what happened to our children from happening again.”

Catherine will be setting off on Saturday, June, 2 from Helmsley and will spend the next seven days walking the 109 miles to Filey, passing Clay Bank, Roseberry Topping, Guisborough, Saltburn and Staithes on the way.

During her seven day walk across the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Coast, the intrepid businesswomen will be carrying everything she needs for her challenge and wild camping along her route.

“For me, at 51, this is a real triple challenge," she said.

"The walking itself will be tough, the wild camping scary and a very new experience, and carrying all of my gear is going to be a struggle.

" doing regular training walks and strength exercises to ensure that I can complete this challenge in one piece.”

Catherine will be walking to mark the tenth anniversary of her business, Kaleidoscope Virtual Assistant Services, and as well as walking 109 miles she hopes to raise £10,000 for her chosen charities.

The money raised will be split equally between SASH (sash-uk.org.uk) and The Island (theislandyork.org)

SASH runs supported lodgings schemes in North and East Yorkshire, to help young people develop the skills they need to live on their own and provides an emergency overnight accommodation for young people during a crisis. By providing support during a time of need, the charity hopes to break a vicious circle of unemployment and homelessness.

The Island provides young people with fully-trained volunteer mentors, who provide one-to-one support to young people in need of support over 12 months.

To find out more and donate visit; uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CatherineAdamson