8:55am Monday 6th July 2009
Thirteen friends are taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge in memory of their friend Jason Carney, who died last year from a rare form of lung cancer.
The friends, from Saltaire and Shipley, are aged between 24 and 26 and are climbing the county’s three highest peaks to raise between £3,000 and £5,000 for the Marie Curie Cancer Care.
They are tackling Pen-Y-Ghent (691 metres), then Whernside (728 metres) and finally Ingleborough (723 metres).
The group, who met at Beckfoot School, Bingley, are taking on the challenge in honour of their friend Jason, who died aged 24 on July 1 last year.
Michael Suffield, 24, who came up with the original idea said: “Jason was a really outgoing guy with a wicked sense of humour.
“He had an eclectic taste in music. He loved everything from rap to indie.
“We chose Marie Curie because Jason spent time in there and they really looked after him.
“I can remembering seeing a poster in the hospice saying that they need £6,000 a day to run it, so if we can raise as much as possible then it will be great.”
Three of the group, who admit they are novices to mountain-climbing, took on the first Pen-y-Ghent challenge last weekend. Mr Suffield said: “It was tough. We had a few 30-second stops. It was definitely easier on the way down.”
Jonathan Hawksorth, 25, who met Jason at Beckfoot Grammar School and then went on to Nottingham Trent University with him, said: “He was a really good friend. We were in the same halls at university and he was a really intelligent guy who studied psychology.
“By doing this climb we hope to raise money and awareness of Marie Curie Cancer Care, who looked after Jason really well.
“He stayed there in his final moments and we all saw what they do and how well they do it.”
The friends hope to make the challenge an annual event to continue to raise awareness of the charity.
Brian Curran, area fundraising manager for Marie Curie Cancer Care, said: “We are delighted and very, very grateful to these fantastic people for getting togather to remember Jason in such a positive way.
“The Three Peaks walk is an incredible challenge but nothing like the challenge many of our patients face.
“Hopefully the money raised will help us to make that challenge easier for them.”
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