It was cancelled for the first time last year because of the coronavirus lockdown – but there was no stopping hundreds of people from taking part in the 10in10 charity hike across the North Lakes fell tops.
More than £75,000 has already been raised for the MS Society from the latest staging of the hugely popular annual event based at the Swinside Inn at Newlands as it was belatedly held for the 10th time.
The total raised for the MS Society since organisers Yvonne and Duncan Booth, from Keswick, first staged the 10in10 in 2011 now stands well in excess of £500,000.
This year it featured a new 18-mile course and attracted a sold-out number of entries limited to 370 because of Covid restrictions – plus 80 in the family 5in5.
And among them was Matt Bradley, of Workington, who completed the main challenge of scaling 10 Lakeland peaks in 10 hours – but bare foot, which attracted national TV interest in the COVID-safe event.
“Matt did it completely in his bare feet – so congratulations to him and also to the 192 Cumbrians and everyone else who completed either the 10in10 or 5in5, however they got round,” said Yvonne, 47.
“It was a huge success. We kept the numbers down and gave people time allocated slots to check in – and off they went. It was all super safe.
“Obviously, the event takes place outdoors and there was social distancing for participants and our 60 volunteers at feed stations.
“We didn’t know how successful it would be. We normally get participants from the USA and Europe but obviously not this year.
“We weren’t sure how fit everyone would be after lockdown or if people would have the money to fund raise but it was incredible.
“The people who did it were so grateful to get out and get on the fells.
“And it’s fantastic to see huge amounts of fundraising money coming in from this event.
“Our record total for any year previously was £100,000 and we already have £77,000 and it is growing,” she added.
Yvonne designed and created the 10in10 challenge after Duncan was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2010 at the age of 39.
Duncan, now 50, was a teacher at St Herbert’s School in Keswick. The couple have three sons.
Their fund-raising is helping the MS Society find a cure for the disease that affects the central nervous system.
Donations can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/10in102021
