INTREPID fundraisers have cycled, paddled and trekked from dawn ‘til dusk for a charity that changes the lives of critically ill children.
Niven Architects staff Johnathan Munkley, Marc Warren and Stephen Abbott took part in the Race the Sun challenge in aid of Action Medical Research for Children.
The Teesside trio and their PT instructor friend Paul Murphy set off at dawn in a Lakeland trial rated one of the toughest on the calendar.
A 25 mile cycle ride led them to the base of the 3,000ft Helvellyn, which they climbed before canoeing around Thirlmere and riding the 25 miles back to base.
The marathon effort took more than 12 hours and despite a puncture within the first 20 minutes of the cycle ride the team came 30th out of 85.
Money is still coming in but so far they have raised more than £1,500 for the charity, which researches rare and life-threatening diseases and supports children with serious conditions.
Building information management (BIM) manager Johnathan, 28, of Norton, architectural technician Marc, 29, of Middlesbrough, associate Stephen, 34, and Paul, 28, both of Billingham, were inspired by the work of the charity.
“It’s important to support charity and Action Medical Research does some incredible work to help some of the country’s sickest children,” said Johnathan, who is based in Darlington.
“It was really tough and we are all struggling to walk up the stairs at work at the moment. Helvellyn was the hardest, particularly coming down and it was freezing at the summit. It was a brutal challenge but well worth it.”
Since 1952 the charity has been helping sick and disabled children despite receiving no Government funding.
Among its countless successes are the introduction of the first polio vaccines, discovering the importance of folic acid in pregnancy, developing ultrasound technology and testing the rubella vaccine.
Research centres are based all over the country including Newcastle where experts are looking for ways to prevent brain tumour relapses in children.
Anyone still wanting to sponsor the Niven team can log on to http://www.action.org.uk/sponsor/nivenarchitects.
