Saturday 14th October saw twelve Explorers and four leaders complete a twenty mile hike on the moors and hills above Shaw and Rochdale to raise money for the charity Papyrus. Papyrus aims to prevent suicide in young people, and is a charity close to our hearts following the death by suicide of one of our Explorers, Ben Fitchett ten years ago. We first helped to organise, and took part in a Hope Walk in 2013 in the months following Ben's death, we did a second five years later in 2018 and as 2023 was the tenth anniversary - we went again.
The first team of six Explorers and two leaders set off from The North Star pub in High Crompton at 7:30 in the morning, followed fifteen minutes later by a team of ex-Explorers who completed the first walk ten years ago and finally the second team of current Explorers.
The two teams of current Explorers prior to setting off.
The team of ex-Explorers and friends before setting off - plus some of them ten years ago in their original team.
The route took us out of High Crompton, through the farms and over to Dunwood Park, from there through Newhey and to the reservoirs at Ogden. Then began the steep trudge up to the A627 crossing at the Rams Head, then over to pick up the Pennine Way as it crosses the A640 Huddersfield Road.
Whilst we were busy walking, other leaders, volunteers and Ben's family were busy organising the biggest raffle ever seen, along with many other fundraising stalls at The North Star as well as making preparations for the other teams to arrive. The Hope Walk is definitely a whole community event, and whilst the Explorers are out doing a twenty mile hike, we also organise a ten mile hike and a five mile route for anyone to join in and raise money and awareness.
Ready and waiting at The North Star
After ten years it was truly amazing to see the whole community come out and support us again, great to see old friends, fantastic that parents of current Explorers also put in teams and completed the walk and brilliant that some of our feeder Scout Troops and Explorers of the future took part.
3rd Shaw Scout Team and ex-Explorer Jake Wilson and Family
But, back to the Explorers and the twenty mile hike! Once we'd picked up the Pennine Way, route finding was easier and we wandered dangerously close to Yorkshire (couldn't go across the boarder as we didn't have our passports), up to the transmitter mast at Windy Hill and over the highest motorway bridge in England to take in the views from Blackstone Edge. It was a bit of a 'waterproofs on, waterproofs off, waterproofs back on again' sort of a day, and as we descended from Blackstone Edge down to The White Hart we got a stunning rainbow to prove it. Arriving at the White Hart is always a good feeling, as we are over half way (just) and on our way back!
The Pennine Way and Blackstone Edge
From the White Hart, it was down through Lidgate and over to Hollingworth Lake. The Wine Press at Hollingworth Lake acts as the start point for the five mile hike, the mid-point of the ten mile hike and a useful rest point for the twenty milers!
Dave and Brett managing the Start / Checkpoint at The Wine Press
Hollingworth Lake is about fifteen miles in, and at this point the legs are beginning to complain a little and it's just a case of getting your head down and keeping on walking, though the farm land at the back of Hollingworth Lake to Milnrow and then keeping on going through the industrial estate to pick up Broad Lane near the Spring Inn. Broad Lane always causes a certain amount of mixed feelings, only one mile to go - but it's all up hill from here! At this point a quick call between the leaders of the two teams confirmed what the Explorers had been telling us - both teams were very close together - they apparently knew because they'd been looking where each other where on Snapmaps! So, we agreed to meet up in High Crompton Park and go in together as one big team.
The whole group in High Crompton Park 100 meters from the end!
At around half past four, nine hours after the first team had set off, all twelve Explorers and four leaders returned to The North Star for some much need rest and recuperation - although some of them looked like they could do it again without a problem - not sure about the leaders though!
At the end, and looking like they could go again!
At this point it is dangerous to start thanking people, as there will undoubtedly be someone I forget, so I'll keep it pretty general, with the odd exception, to stop it sounding like an Oscars speech! A huge thank you to all the leaders, volunteers, families, walkers and anyone who donated. A massive thank you to Sarah and Peter Fitchett, truly inspirational people who without which we just couldn't run the event. Also a special thanks to Mark the landlord of The North Star for giving us his pub for the day, we couldn't have done it without you.
Sarah and Peter Fitchett and Mark from The North Star
But as this is an Explorer Blog, I have to mention the awesome group of young people who not only went out and walked, but gathered sponsors and got families involved to raise money and awareness for such a good cause. I've worked with teenagers for many, many years now and they never fail to amaze me with their hard work, dedication, kindness of spirit and wonderful sense of humour. To have the ex-Explorers there as well, who are all now in their mid twenties, was also special, and showed that amazing teenagers turn into amazing young men, and I hope being a member of Explorers has played a little part in that.
So final word, how much did we raise? Yes I've left that bit to the end in the hope it will make you read the whole blog! £7,652 at the last count, which combined with the last two walks means around £30,000 has been raised for Papyrus over the last ten years from high Crompton Hope Walks. From all of the organisers, thank you so, so much for your support.
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