Harrogate colleagues climb Snowdon at sunrise for Yorkshire Cancer Research

A group of Harrogate colleagues have climbed Snowdon to help raise funds for Yorkshire Cancer Research.

The team of employees from Belzona, a design and manufacturing company, hiked up the highest mountain in Wales as part of their year-long fundraising for the charity.

Lily Alexander-Pike from the company said: “We first suggested the idea to the team after one of our colleagues had done it and said how amazing it was.

“We had so much interest and everyone really got behind it, either taking part or donating. We were amazed to raise over £3000 for Yorkshire Cancer Research in sponsorship.”

The team, which consisted of 28 people from Belzona and two employees from Yorkshire Cancer Research, began their climb at one o’clock in the morning to reach the 1,085-metre peak for sunrise.

Lily continued:

“It was surreal walking up in complete darkness, but when the sun rose the views were just incredible. The journey back down was like a completely different walk when you could see everything around you.”

Belzona selected Yorkshire Cancer Research as 2021’s charity of the year with a staff vote and have since been taking part in fundraising activities to help prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer in Yorkshire.

Yorkshire Cancer Research was nominated as one of this year’s charities by Sarah Furber, a member of the finance department, because she has family members who have been affected by cancer.

Lily said: “We had a chocolate raffle where the top prize was a giant KitKat, which was really popular. We also hosted a cutest pet competition where staff donated to enter their adorable pets.

“We try and do small things across the year as well as big fundraisers, which means the amount we raise adds up really quickly.”