Fledge Trustee and founder Lauren, and volunteer Sue have both faced up to the #staircaseSnowdon challenge to raise funds for Fledge during the current Covid crisis. Sue was also joined by husband Paul for the ‘climb’.

Lauren descending her home staircase ready to climb another 13 steps towards “the summit”!

Bored with sitting at home, and conscious of the added pressure on the staff team at Fledge, both ladies secured sponsorship to climb the height of Snowdon by ascending and descending the stairs in their respective houses. Encouraged by family who were also enduring lockdown, the ‘climbers’ raised over £ between them to support the homeless and vulnerable young adults who Fledge house and support.

Lauren, who with her husband Mark, had the original vision for Fledge, having been a youth worker has seen first-hand, the challenges faced by young people with no-where to call home. Describing the challenge, Lauren reflected: “Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales. It is 1,085 metres above sea level: and that’s 3,560 feet high, or the equivalent of over 4600 steps on the stairs of the average family home. Even more bizarrely you have to descend the same distance even while you still have a distance to climb – in order to be able to start at the bottom for the next 13 steps or so. It took me about two and a half hours in total, but at least I didn’t have to contend with the Snowdonia weather!” I am really grateful to all those who sponsored me and made the effort so worthwhile.” Sue and Paul celebrate finishing their climb with a picture of the real Snowdon.

Sue and husband Paul made it a shared effort though. Sue reports, “Paul did his part within an hour and a half, but I took three days of effort!”

Praising their efforts, Fledge Operations Manager Nerissa Dean said “The example of our trustees and volunteers in supporting Fledge in this way is incredible and everyone at Fledge is so appreciative of them and their sponsors who ensured their efforts have really made a difference. The money raised will be a great help as we invest in the many things we need to operate and care for our service users safely in these challenging times. And we will look at Welsh mountains in a new light after this!”