A TEAM of six adventurers braved sub-zero temperatures to highlight the freezing conditions endured by older people in this county.

They slept above Stickle Tarn in the Langdale Valley to raise awareness of Cumbria Community Foundation’s Winter Warmth Fund, which helps pensioners struggling to pay rising fuel bills.

They hope the sleepover will encourage others to think about helping their neighbours and also donating to the fund.

Describing the weekend adventure, Andy Beeforth OBE, director of Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “The camaraderie provided by everyone made it a very special trip. But we still have up to two months of cold weather ahead of us, so please donate to the appeal and help older people in need.” 

Coun Ben Berry took part and admitted the physical effort pushed him to the limit.

“Andy said it would be a relatively short walk in, which it would be for most people but since I had a canyoning accident two years ago and broke my knee and my femur, it was really hard work. It took two hours in the pitch dark and involved a little bit of scrambling.

“But going up the mountain made me more attuned to what the people who benefit from the Winter Warmth Fund go through every day. Many will have long term health conditions and be facing the whole winter feeling cold and we know more people die. So it put their suffering in perspective because it was only one night in reality for me.”

The ice on the tents and bivvy bags proved that temperatures dropped below freezing.  It was particularly cold for Nuclear Management Partner’s Gary McKeating who, along with Andy Beeforth chose to forego tents and slept under the stars in bivvy bags. 

Gary said “Hiking up a fell in the pitch dark was a new experience for me as was sleeping beneath the stars in a bivvie bag. It was a great bunch of people to share that experience with and all for a very good cause. I'm so glad that last year’s figure was surpassed - it means that even more vulnerable people can be helped this year.”

One of the charity’s trustees Chris Tomlinson OBE, said: “We’re very fortunate to choose to sample the cold and discomfort.  Sadly for many people choosing between heating and eating is a daily decision. The Winter Warmth Appeal has now raised £43,500 and we’ve already helped 120 older people with grants and expect that figure to rise to 300. We know from previous year’s appeals that this money saves lives – so our efforts are for a very good cause.”

To help the campaign, you can donate online - at www.justgiving.com/winterwarmthfund - by text - send a text message to 70070 including the code WINT37 e.g. WINT37 £5 to 70070. You can donate £2, £5 or £10 - or by cheque - made payable to ‘Cumbria Community Foundation’ with ‘Winter Warmth’ written on the back. Post to: Cumbria Community Foundation, Dovenby Hall, Dovenby, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0PN.