Casella Team Tops Three Peaks for Cancer Research

When Gary Noakes lost his battle against cancer in 2012, aged just 51, his friends and work colleagues at Bedford-based Casella (UK) - global specialist in occupational health and environmental risk management solutions - were determined that his death would not be in vain.

Choosing Cancer Research as its charity partner seemed like a good place to start and a programme of fundraising activities was soon put together, but the likes of coffee mornings weren’t on the agenda for this hardy group. Instead they chose to embark on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge last month, a 24-mile walk across the highest peaks in the Dales.

Comments Ben Henson, Casella’s General Manager: “The team lost a dear colleague last year and wanted to do something positive in his memory. Unfortunately, the chances are we have all known someone who has suffered at the hands of cancer and this is our chance to fight back.”

Starting their trek together at just after 6am on 22^nd June, the intrepid Casella group numbering 19 strong headed towards Pen-Y-Ghent, an ascent of 694 metres, reaching the summit at different times after a slippery climb that was almost vertical in places.

Having listened to the GPS and inadvertently taking a boggy route rather than a drier option, combined with the advent of a heavy rainstorm en route, some of the participants found the next eight miles or so rather challenging. As a result, two of the drenched and very tired team decided to call it a day. 

However, the hardiest among them soldiered on, fortified by tea and bacon and egg baps, to hike up the second peak, Whernside.

Having successfully negotiated the steep, treacherous descent, the exertion caused more of the Casella fundraisers to decide against continuing, their aches, pains and injuries telling them to call it a day.

Cold, wet, tired and hungry, the remainder of the group continued onwards and upwards to complete Ingleborough, the third peak, with 13 of them achieving the entire challenge, their finishing times varying from 10 hours 14 minutes to 14 hours.

Commenting on the experience, Neal Hill, Product Marketing Manager at Casella said: “This was very much a personal challenge for each of us and it struck me that it was also a metaphor for the very cause that we were walking for. Some fell by the wayside early on but the majority made it. I’m sure Gary would have been immensely proud of us all.”

Casella has raised an impressive £3484.65 so far. To contribute to Casella’s fundraising efforts in aid of Cancer Research, please visit: http://j.mp/13ShjII.