A 50-MILE charity walk during lockdown inspired two friends to form a walking club and now, 300 members later, the Wild Wye Walkers are taking on the Wales Three Peaks next week.

Donna Haywood and Lisa Hutchinson set up the Wild Wye Walkers in January this year.

Mum-of-two Donna, 39, a beauty therapist, and Lisa, 39, an HR professional from Chepstow, are keen hikers.

Lisa said: “We founded Wild Wye Walkers to share some of our favourite local routes and support others during lockdown.

“For us, walking has so many benefits - not just for our physical health but also our mental well-being.

“We wanted to share those benefits with others, and meet other people along the way.

“The group started with a handful of friends and we couldn’t believe how quickly it grew.”

Since January, Donna and Lisa have organised more than 50 walks covering a distance of more than 5,000 miles.

Donna also completed a 50-mile charity hike which raised £6,750 for Pancreatic Cancer UK, after her mum was diagnosed with the disease.

On October 14, 10 women from the group are taking on the Welsh Three Peaks, which include Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, and Cadair Idris and Snowdon in north Wales.

Donna said: “Walking the Welsh Three Peaks from dawn until dusk will be a huge challenge but we’re determined and have done lots of training to prepare.

"We are aiming to raise as much as we can for Velindre Cancer Centre which provides invaluable support for families across Wales – this charity means so much for a number of the group members taking on the challenge.”

Donna and Lisa will be joined by Nicole Lake, Laura Beach, Luan Reed, Susie Gardner, Emma Whitmore, Lisa Holloway, Rachel Cross, and Carla Buley.

Anyone - male or female - who are interested in joining the group can do by searching Facebook for Wild Wye Walkers and to donate to their charity visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nicole-porter6?utm_source=facebook.

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