A Keswick family are continuing their 12-year-long fundraising fight to find a cure for multiple sclerosis.
Duncan and Yvonne Booth, along with their children Leo, Xander and Jude, are set to host their 13th organised fell walking challenge this year – all with the aim of raising £1 million to fund research into the chronic disease.
The challenge – known as the 10in10 Challenge – was founded in 2011 by Duncan and Yvonne, after Duncan was diagnosed with MS in 2010.
Taking place this year on Saturday June 22 – walkers are challenged to complete ten Lake District fells in 10 hours or less, or if walking the 5in5 route – five fells in as long as it takes.
Since the first event, participants have raised almost £800,000 for the MS Society. The Booths have their sights set on reaching £1 million – a goal set by their middle child Xander, now 17-years-old, when the challenge first launched.
Over the years, thousands of participants have travelled to Keswick from across the UK and around the world to take part in the event which is sponsored by Berghaus and their ambassador Sir Chris Bonington.
Yvonne, who has led treks around the world including the Himalayas, said the event has become a family and local community affair.
She added: “My amazing husband Duncan is the inspiration for 10in10 and the reason we keep going year on year. Duncan was one of Britain’s best rock climbers before his diagnosis and we continued to climb and fell walk as a family for as long as Duncan was able to.
“We set up 10in10 because we are people of the fells. We have lived and breathed the Lake District all our lives and we wanted other people to be able to experience the beauty of the area while also raising lots of money for the MS Society.
“Our children were very young when we started the challenge, but they have grown up seeing the time and passion we have put into it and now they want to be involved and do something so important for their dad.
“We have always stayed positive and hopeful for the children’s sake and wanted them to grow up in a happy home. Dunc’s determination and humor has taught them valuable lessons about life and how resilience and laughter are so important.
“Now they are older they understand how incredibly difficult it is for their dad and how it has greatly impacted our family. I recently walked the route with my eldest and youngest boys and I’m so proud how they’ve got involved in organising the challenge. It means so much to Duncan and I.”
More than 150,000 people live with MS in the UK and is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord.
It impacts how people move, think and feel. MS can be debilitating, exhausting and unpredictable but symptoms are different for everyone and often invisible.
While Duncan is no longer able to take part in the 10in10 he continues to work behind the scenes with Yvonne on the planning and promotion.
Yvonne added: “We know the 10in10 is a tough challenge, and I wanted this to reflect how hard it is living with a debilitating condition every day. But we have also made sure anyone from 8 to 88 years old can take part in the 5in5 and we would love to see more families on the fells.
“There’s a fantastic party at the end, and this year we’re going to have our very own 10in10 beer served – but we don’t endorse the 10 beers in 10 minutes challenge!
“We’re so close to reaching our target now and we would love to be able to achieve Xander’s dream of £1 million. It’s a dream for all of us actually.”
Mark Haymes, head of community and events fundraising at the MS Society, said Duncan and Yvonne’s achievements since starting in 2011 were incredible.
He added: “We are so thankful to them for their ongoing dedication and passion.
“Over 135 people are diagnosed every week with MS in the UK and we’re here to support everyone affected by the condition through research, campaigning and support services like our free MS Helpline.
“We are only able to do that, in part, thanks to amazing fundraisers like Yvonne and Duncan.”
The 2024 10in10 Challenge takes hikers on a 26km route that starts and finishes at Swinside Inn in Newlands Valley.
Participants tick off causey pike, sail, crag hill, wandope, whiteless pike, high snockrigg, robinson, dale head, high spy and maiden moor.
The Family 5in5 Challenge is a shorter hike of 12.9km, suitable for walkers of all ages and ideal for a family group.
With the same start and finish point, the route includes causey pike, scar crags, outerside, stile end and Barrow.
For more information or to sign up visit www.10in10.org.uk.
