TREKFEST Team Vital Take On Brecon Beacons In Aid Of Super Josh And Parkinson’s UK

Christie Hutchinson | 7th June 2016

 

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TrekFest, the Ultimate UK Charity Challenge, is by far one of the toughest things any member of TeamVital – who raise amazing sums for The Joshua Wilson Brain Tumour Charity and Parkinson’s UK – has ever done.

Cath, Matt and Andrew stormed ahead and completed the trek in twelve hours, while the remaining team members were having too much fun with VIVAEms’ portable speakers and TrekFest mix, dancing on bridges and bumping into stag parties. So it comes as no surprise it took them fifteen hours to cross the finish line!

Coronation Street actresses Catherine Tyldesley, (Eva) Tisha Merry (Steph) and Katie McGlynn (Sinead) braved the arduous 50K hike through the hills of the picturesque Brecon Beacons, alongside other clients and friends of Manchester based publicity firm, Vital Management and Publicity. Other team members included:  Vital’s Laura Graham; VIVAEms; Andrew Cheung and Matt Warner from Ultimate Performance Manchester; Dawn Fidler – Super Josh’s Mum and Carly Guy.

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“Mentally and physically, it was the most intense thing any of us have ever done,” said our very own VIVAEms. She then went on to say, “The whole team really bonded. Everyone had moments where they wanted to give up but we supported each other the whole way round. It was such an honour to do the trek with Dawn.” (Super Josh’s Mum).
VIVA caught up with Dawn after the trek to ask about her best and worst moments.“The best part of this whole experience has been getting to know you guys, bonding with you and facing the challenge together. The most difficult bit was completing the last bit of thPhoto-04-06-2016-8-08-03-am-460x307e trek in the dark. I kept thinking someone was behind me. Your mind plays crazy tricks on you in the dark.”

Publicist Laura Graham, who organised the trip, said if it hadn’t of been for such a great bunch of people, the belly laughs and fun, she wouldn’t have got through the challenge. “The thing that kept me going was the camaraderie, the fun and the utter delirium where we just looked at each other and started falling about laughing – we stuck together and motivated each other and this makes me so proud of the team.”

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Katie and Tisha also found TrekFest tough, and often wanted to cry. Their hardest moment was just before the finish line when it was pitch black. “Going through the fields in the darkness was scary and the blisters were difficult to contend with,” said Tisha.

TeamVital would like to thank Sarah, Matthew, Jess and Richard from Global Adventure Challenges for making our adventure a reality, and all the Central Brecon Mountain Rescue Team for ensuring we did it without injury!

Team Vital would like to thank Regatta Outdoors, for the fab trek clothing; Jimbag, for the cool rucksacks; David Lloyd Leisure in Cheadle and Ultimate Performance Manchester for all the fitness training.

Most importantly, thanks to everyone who sponsored Team Vital. It motivated the team no end, especially when we were exhausted or in pain, knowing that so many kind and generous people had helped us raise in excess of £10,000 for our chosen charities.

P.S. VIVAEms would like to thank the lovely Welsh lads who provided us with a can of beer, making the last 5K doable.

 

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Photo Gallery Credit: Andrew Cheung