Keen hiker Ben Richardson, 22, from Melton, will be joining the Everyone Active East Region 9-Edges XL Challenge next month. The team is hoping to raise £7,500 for Breast Cancer Now as they take on an iconic 50km route through the Peak District on May 7. This year’s challenge has been extended even further to include the beautiful Chatsworth Park and Beeley Moor.
Ben works as a duty manager at Waterfield Leisure Centre, which is managed by Everyone Active in partnership with Melton Borough Council. He felt motivated to take part in the event after losing several family members to cancer.
Growing up with a love for hiking and endurance sports, Ben is certainly no stranger to a fundraising challenge. Last year, he and a friend completed the gruelling 48-hour Goggins endurance challenge to support Leicester Children's Hospital Charity.
This latest trek for Breast Cancer Now will see him hiking alongside colleagues across the famous gritstone edges of the Peaks. Ben has been following a strict fitness plan to prepare his body for moving efficiently on steep gradients for long periods. He has been training hard in the gym at Waterfield Leisure Centre around his busy work shifts. The dedicated hiker also visits the Peak District regularly for day hikes to ensure he is ready for the terrain.
“Getting outside in nature helps me disconnect from life and get a few hours for myself,” he says. “I think mental resilience will be a key factor in the 9-Edges XL Challenge.” “The long training hikes are helping me learn how to deal with self-doubt when starting to hit the wall.” “It could well be hot and humid in May, so I have been practising what I will carry to ensure I am able to eat and drink enough.”
You can support Ben and the team here. Location: Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.
