Group attempt '12 months of mountains' for Maggie's Wirral

Dan Marsden, and Sean Hayes, have both been completing charity challenges for the last five years, raising thousands of pounds for charities.

This year Dan and Sean have rounded up a team of friends, family and colleagues who will be completing 12 mountains in 12 months for Maggie’s Wirral, a local cancer centre supporting people affected by cancer in Merseyside and Cheshire.

The group taking on the challenge (Image: Maggie's Wirral)

Mountains include Ben Nevis in Scotland, Sleive Donard in Northern Ireland, Pen Y Ghent in Yorkshire and Mount Olympus in Greece. The team will be completing a different mountain every month of the year.

Dan said: ‘"There are many great charities that aim to help patients navigate their battle through cancer, but Maggie’s just feels different and personal.

"After visiting the Wirral centre this was more apparent, the architecture and the atmosphere could not be further removed from the clinical setting of oncology and really does feel like a safe haven with tremendous love and support.’"

Dan (Image: Maggie's Wirral)

The local gym Dan attends, EmpoweredFit, took part in the Born Survivor Challenge last year raising over £3.5k for Maggie’s, from this, Dan learnt more about Maggie’s.

'We are honoured to support and raise vital funds for Maggie’s this year'

He added: "Unfortunately we have had friends over the past few years, especially during Covid, who have sadly succumbed to cancer.

"We love and miss them dearly and we continue to know people who still have family fighting. Our friend’s dad is currently going through treatment for a second time.

"A dear friend of my own has had her cancer return and I am just so appreciative we have a special place like Maggie’s they can turn to. Therefore, we are honoured to support and raise vital funds for Maggie’s this year."

Through Dan’s commitment to raising funds for charities, his workplace, Amazon named him as one of the Amazon Stars for 2023 in recognition of his work raising money for various charities, including baby loss charity Tommy’s, which conducts research into miscarriage and prevention.

Dan received one of the top prizes from this campaign, a personalised Dream Box worth £1,500.

Centre Head, Kathy Wright, said: "We are extremely grateful to Dan, Sean and the amazing team behind them for their incredible support and for helping to keep our doors open for people who need us now more than ever.

"We have thousands of visits every year and our team of qualified professionals deliver an evidence-based programme of support, which has shown to improve physical and emotional wellbeing.’"

Maggie’s Wirral supports people from Wirral, Merseyside, Cheshire, and North Wales, built in the grounds of Clatterbridge Hospital. Maggie’s relies on voluntary donations and events.

If you would like to support Dan, Sean and the team, you can visit their online giving page here.