They may have set off at 6.30am this morning, but our Metro.co.uk Lifeline trekkers were all smiles – and maybe a few blisters – as they crossed the finish line of their epic London ’10 Peaks’ challenge.
All in aid of The Hygiene Bank charity, which helps those most affected by hygiene poverty, each trekker – which included celebs Charlie Webster, Meg Mathews and Vicky Pattison – received a well-deserved medal once they past the final point in Cockfosters, north London.
So far, the trek has raised more than £38,000 for the charity, which will help them continue to distribute donated hygiene products to those most in need.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk after the event, reality star Vicky Pattison said: ‘It has been a challenging and incredibly rewarding day – our team were wonderful with great morale that helped get us through, not to mention you know you’re walking for a really deserving cause so the feel good factor really helped.
‘I’m off home now to eat my body weight in sausage rolls but it was amazing to be involved with the Metro on the Hygiene Bank Project.’
Fellow celeb trekker Charlie Webster added: ‘It was such a wonderful atmosphere, and so nice to be able to do a challenge in the current environment to help raise awareness for the hygiene bank, a charity needed more than ever right now.
‘We had such a good laugh in our socially distanced group. We pushed eachother and it get very competitive in the end. We came in first, not that it was a race!’
The Hygiene Bank was first set up two years ago by Lizzy Hall and distributes donated products such as soap, nappies and shampoos, to those affected by hygiene poverty.
It’s core ambition ‘is to no longer need to exist,’ explained Lizzy when we launched our campaign earlier this year.
‘But until then we need significant funds to become a sustainable charity and driver for change and social justice,’ she said.
‘We want to be more than a sticking plaster to a broken system and want to play an influential role in tackling poverty, hygiene poverty and stigma. Yes, we want product donations, but we also need funds to keep on doing what we do.’
It wasn’t just celebrities who got an early start this morning.
Metro.co.uk readers also embarked on the gruelling 26-mile challenge.
Trekker Janet Doyle said: ‘We had such a brilliant day! Great teamwork and was amazing to pull of such a successful walk during covid and socially distancing but we did it without a worry and for such a good cause. I’m now going home for a well earned beer!’
Metro.co.uk’s very own feature’s editor Claie Wilson also took part in the trek.
She said: ‘We’re so proud of all our brilliant trekkers! They went above and beyond today and have raised so much money for The Hygiene Bank. I’m sure there will be plenty of blisters and sore feet tomorrow, but hopefully everyone will agree it was more than worth it.’
To make a donation to the Metro.co.uk Lifeline challenge in support of The Hygiene Bank, click here.
MORE: All you need to know about The Hygiene Bank – our chosen charity for Metro.co.uk’s Lifeline campaign
MORE: Meet our trekkers taking on London’s 10 peaks to help The Hygiene Bank
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
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Metro.co.uk Lifeline
This year sees the launch of our exciting new charity campaign: Metro.co.uk Lifeline. Our aim is simple – to raise as much money as possible for charity with YOUR help.
For 2020 we have chosen to support The Hygiene Bank, a vital charity that helps distribute hygiene products for those most in need.
As well as sharing their story to help raise awareness, readers and celebrities will also be doing a 26-mile fundraising hike across London’s ’10 Peaks’ on Saturday 19 September, 2020.
To make a donation, click here.
