KEEN hikers and fundraisers are being encouraged to sign up for a charity challenge later this year for the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund.

 

Lizzie Jones is leading a group of the charity’s supporters, including some famous faces, to take on the Three Peaks challenge.

 

The event will take place on the weekend of June 10-11.

 

The challenge is aiming to raise £10,000, which will go towards providing defibrillators to hundreds of community clubs and junior sports teams across the country.

 

The fund was set up following the death of Keighley Cougars and Wales international half-back Danny Jones, who collapsed and died from an underlying heart condition while playing for the Cougars against London Skolars in May 2015, aged 29.

 

Mrs Jones, who was crowned Inspirational Woman of the Year at last year’s Women of the Year Awards, will be joined by rugby league star turned pundit Barrie McDermott on the challenge, and is asking anyone interested to get in touch, whether that be by completing the challenge or volunteering as a driver.

 

The challenge will see hikers climb Britain’s highest peak, Ben Nevis in Scotland, before travelling overnight to England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike in Cumbria, and completing the challenge in North Wales by summiting Mount Snowdon, all in 24 hours or less.

 

Mrs Jones said: “I am asking friends and supporters of the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund to join me and a host of former rugby league players and celebrities on the challenge.

 

“We will meet at 9am at a central point to drive in the minibuses to Ben Nevis, and at 4pm we will meet to begin the 24-hour challenge at the base of Ben Nevis.

 

“To enable the charity to raise as much as possible from the challenge and to cover accommodation and support costs, everything you raise over £500 per person, which covers the cost associated to the challenge, will go to the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund.”

 

Barrie McDermott, who played for Leeds Rhinos and Great Britain in a 15-year career, said he is “thrilled to be involved” with the challenge.

 

To register your interest in taking part, email Consult.Projects@rfl.co.uk by Friday, March 31.