WORKERS at a manufacturer in Widnes took on an 80-mile hiking challenge in a bid to raise thousands for three chosen local charities.

A team of 14 employees from BYK Additives Ltd, based on Moorfield Road, completed The Dales Way challenge in three days and raised £10,000 for good causes.

The Dales Way runs for a gruelling distance of 80 miles from Ilkley in west Yorkshire to Bowness-on-Windermere in Cumbria, passing through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the foothills of southern Lakeland to the shores of Lake Windermere.

Three charities were selected to receive the shared total sum of fundraising made by the company – The Lee Cooper Foundation, Widnes Food Bank and Energy Projects Plus.

Runcorn and Widnes World: Widnes Food Bank received £4,000 from the funding potWidnes Food Bank received £4,000 from the funding pot (Image: Supplied)

A BYK spokesman said: “The group was made-up of employees from a number of different departments, including research and development, process engineering, IT, finance, quality, operations, site services and even a retired member of staff return to support the event.

“There were varying levels of hiking experience and through numerous weeks of evening and weekend training walks, and through wind, rain and snow, the team prepared themselves for the challenge.”

The manufacturer, which is a global supplier of speciality chemicals, managed to raise its goal of an outstanding £10,000 for all three charities.

The funds were divided up between the charities, with Widnes Food Bank receiving £4,000. Energy Projects Plus received a donation of £3,350 and The Lee Cooper Foundation received £2,560. 

A spokesman from the team who took part in the challenge added: “Now that our feet have healed and the aches and pains faded, we look back and reflect on what a great experience it was, especially as we have been able to transfer the money to the charities recently.”