Charity Challenge

A team of intrepid staff from East Coast Community Healthcare have scaled new heights to raise money for a Lowestoft charity which supports new babies.

Seven health visitors and two members of the Family Nurse Partnership team successfully completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in aid of Baby Basics, a volunteer-led project that provides essentials to mothers and families who are struggling financially. This includes teenage mums, people seeking asylum and women fleeing domestic abuse and trafficking.

The team raised £2,321, including a donation from ECCH, after battling wet windy weather to walk the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in under 12 hours. These peaks form part of the Pennine range around the head of the valley of the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

ECCH’s Healthy Child Programme Lead Kate Ryczanowski said: “It was a real test of our stamina and our teamwork but definitely worth it to raise much needed funds for this brilliant charity. That’s what spurred us on when the rain didn’t end and we were struggling with wet feet and blisters. We had to practically crawl up the peaks at times whilst trying not to slip as the constant downpour turned the paths into rivers - but we made it! Despite a few wobbly moments we looked after each other and we’re so proud that we achieved it.”

They presented a cheque to Baby Basics at Gunton Baptist Church, where the project is based. Baby Basics plan to use the money to buy cots and mattresses as well as smaller items like clothing and toiletries.