Friends begin Wainwright challenge in memory of dads

Charity walkers Daniel Holder, left, and David Jackson both lost their dads to cancer

Two Lake District holiday park owners are climbing all 214 Wainwright fells in memory of their dads.

Best friends David Jackson and Daniel Holder were 22 and 16 when they lost their fathers to cancer. The keen walkers only found out their shared loss decades later during a conversation on the fells.

"It would be so easy for us just to get wrapped up in the running of our parks, but fell climbing provides an important extra dimension to our lives," Mr Jackson said.

They plan to bag each of the Lakeland peaks over the course of a year and raise £5,000 for the charity Cancer Research UK.

The Wainwrights are named after Alfred Wainwright, who created the well-known seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells.

Fells for our Fathers

Mr Holder, 60, who runs the Quiet Site holiday park near Ullswater, said: “We both really enjoy tackling high level trails in the Lake District, and the subject came up when we were talking over a beer after one of our climbs.

“We thought it would be great if our outings were able to make a difference to the work of Cancer Research and the many ways in which they support those affected.

“Bagging all of the Wainwrights in one year appealed to us both a challenge, and we’ve been delighted at all of the donation pledges that have so far rolled in.”

The men have already embarked on their challenge, bagging the 2,848ft (868m) summit of Blencathra earlier this month. When complete, they will have climbed more than 118,000ft (36,000m) and walked 215 miles (350km).

Mr Jackson, 59, owner of Castlerigg Hall, near Keswick, added: “If we are able to combine enjoying the beauty of the Lake District with supporting a cause which is close to both our hearts, I would regard that as time very well spent.”

The two men have set up a fundraising page called Fells For Our Fathers.