FOOTSORE students, backed by a few ‘old boys and girls’, completed a unique challenge in the Lakeland fells to boost the funds of mountain rescue teams.

More than 100 past and present members of Durham University Hill Walking Society scaled all 214 Wainwrights in the Lake District on a single day.

These are the Lake District fells famously charted by keen hill walker Alfred Wainwright in his iconic maps and guide books.

Not only did this month’s challenge mark the 70th anniversary of the society, but it was also 70 years since the late author began writing his Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells.

The mammoth task began at 8.30am, when minibuses and cars set off from ‘base camp’, at the Braithwaite Institute, near Keswick, ferrying different groups of walkers to their starting locations.

Society president Lorna McBride said: “The final summit was reached at 18.56, ten hours and 26 minutes later.

“So far, we have raised over £7,500 for the Lake District, and the Teesdale and Weardale, search and mountain rescue teams.

“These services are comprised of volunteers and rely solely on donations.

“They do vital work searching for and rescuing people lost or injured in the hills, providing an amazing safety net completely free of charge that helps make our adventures possible.

“The society would love to increase their fundraising total as much as possible and would greatly appreciate any donations.”

Read more: Hillwalkers' 70th anniversary Wainwrights Challenge on Saturday

Ms McBride said the Wainwrights have a combined height of almost 140,000m and the society believes that it is the first time they have all been climbed in one day by a walking group.

“To take on this feat, the 214 summits were divided across 37 routes.

“These included more intense options that covered long distances and involved technical scrambling and difficult navigation, as well as shorter, more accessible options to ensure all members were able to contribute to the challenge.

“It brought together 100 hillwalkers, including alumni members going back 30 years, in celebration of 70 years of Durham University Hill Walking.”

She added: “The weekend as a whole was an excellent celebration of the society, all that it has achieved over the past 70 years, and the money it has raised to support mountain rescue’s invaluable work.”

The society’s web page carries details of how further donations can be added to the £7,500 initial tally.

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