A solicitor is taking on an epic walking challenge in memory of a colleague who died from cancer.
David Walton, a partner at Gorvins Solicitors in Stockport, is aiming to walk 214 Wainwright peaks in the Lake District inside a year.
David, 43, is raising money for Cancer Research UK in memory of fellow partner Steven Moyle, who died last year after a long battle against the disease.
The Wainwrights are peaks that appear in Alfred Wainwright’s Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells and range in height from 985ft to Scafell Pike – England’s highest mountain – at 3120ft.
David, 43, said: “Each year one of our partners takes on a charity challenge.
“Challenges have involved everything from a parachute jump to a bike ride across Africa but I wanted to take on something personal to me.
“Cancer has impacted on most people’s lives, either personally or through work colleagues, friends or family members.
“For all of us at Gorvins, Steven’s brave fight had a massive effect – he was determined to keep working and retain a sense of normality
“Based on his example and memory, I wanted to do something that was a real challenge, and Cancer Research was a natural choice for the partner charity.”
David, who lives in Altrincham, has so far ‘bagged’ 57 Wainwrights and hopes to complete the task within a calendar year, averaging three trips per month to the Lakes in his trusty campervan called ‘Harvey’.
He added: “The choice of the Lake District and the Wainwrights is very personal to me.
“I was very lucky to have spent a lot of time in the Lakes as a child and, as a result, I think a big piece of my heart is in the hills.”
Amongst the Wainwrights, there are 171 peaks over 2,000ft and, according to the Long Distance Walkers Association, fewer than 750 people have climbed all 214.
The challenge started on January 1 when David reached the top of Low Fell with his son Matthew, 11, and most recently he took a team of eight colleagues on a route that picked up four peaks near Ambleside.
On his prospects of completing the challenge within a year, David added: “A lot will depend on the weather. On May 1 I did not expect to be wading waist-deep in snow, and a week later, I needed sunblock.”
David’s year-long challenge can be followed on a dedicated Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/wallywalkswainwrights/ and any donations can be made via https://www.justgiving.com/wallywalksthewainwrights.
