On Saturday 3 July, Harrogate Railway AFC will be taking on the Three Peaks Challenge in Yorkshire in order to raise money for Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity (HHCC).

The team will walk all three Yorkshire Peaks including Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside, climbing a grand total of 2,153 metres in elevation in just 12 hours.

The challenge will start and end at Horton-in-Ribblesdale and anyone can sponsor the team through their fundraising page ahead of the event at https://hhcc.co.uk/our-causes/yorkshirethreepeaks/.

Every penny raised will make life-changing differences to patients, staff and their families at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) who the charity supports. Recently, money raised from similar events has gone towards ongoing improvements and enhancements at Harrogate District Hospital, such as the newly refurbished ITU which opened earlier this year.

Mick O’Connell, Manager of Harrogate Railway Athletic Football Club, said: “We have been keen to complete the Yorkshire Three Peaks this summer as it is a great pre-season team building exercise for the lads, and at the same time it presented us with the perfect opportunity to raise money for our local hospital charity who we already work closely with.

“Covid-19 presented us all with some of the most challenging circumstances over the last year, for Hospitals and the NHS more than most, so it is an absolute privilege to have the opportunity to raise money for HHCC and we hope that the footballing and wider local community will get behind us and show their support too. #uptherail.”

Sammy Lambert, Business Development, Charity and Volunteer Manager, said: “On behalf of HHCC I would like to wish all the Harrogate Railway Athletic Football Club good luck with completing this challenge; it will certainly be tough! We are so grateful to have their support and the money they raise will be invaluable to improving the care we are able to provide at the Trust.”