Meet the Y3Peaks inspiresport Team - Jonathan, Lynda, Phil

On 13^th July 2019, a team of 9 inspiresport staff will take part in the Yorkshire 3 Peak Challenge in support of our charity partners Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.

Over the next 3 #charitytuesdays, we’ll be catching up with the team to find out why they are putting themselves through the gruelling 24.5 mile route and check out how their individual ‘training’ plans are working out!

First up, we chatted to Jonathan Young (Head of Sales – South), Phil Edwards (Head of International Sales) and Lynda Merryweather (Regional Sales Manager – North) who used her amazing negotiation skills to pull the team together in the first place…

What made you decide to join the Y3Peak inspiresport team?

JY: A company team undertook a charity cycling challenge a few years ago, and that event has always been talked about as a great experience – so when Lynda suggested this challenge I didn’t want to miss out. It’s also a great opportunity to support our chosen charity partner Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.

PE: It’s a fantastic cause and it’s always nice to do something as part of a team. I love the fact that this will be a tough mental and physical challenge too.

LM: I’m a champion of the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice and have already raised some money for them by organising an event at my local cricket club. I was really keen to do something with my colleagues and this seemed like a great idea.

How would you describe your fitness level prior to agreeing to the Y2Peak Challenge?

LM: OK! I walk a lot at home in the Pennines and I run regularly too. I’ve recently run the Manchester Half Marathon.

JY: In decline!! Bit of cycling and running…and then chasing around after two toddlers – does that count?

PE: I’ve got dodgy knees and chocolate ankles from running…but otherwise I’m in great shape!

How’s training going?

PE: Errr, um…well…could be better but I still have time right? (Yes Phil – 3 weeks!!)

LM: I’ve just come back from a ‘girls holiday’ where I drank wine and cocktails and sunbathed quite a lot! Prior to my holiday I was training for the half marathon, and I have a 12-mile hilly walk planned in. I’m also hoping to walk up Snowdon before we do the Y3Peaks….

JY: Training?! Sporadic! And I’m still trying to locate my walking boots which were last used in Peru in 2003…

What do you bring to the Y3Peak inspiresport team? What’s your role?

JY: Height…my go to roll is ham, cheese and pickle!!

PE: A calming influence and hopefully some laughs…

LM: So far I’ve organised the registrations, liaised with the charity and booked the accommodation for the weekend. Usually when I’m doing a long walk with a group, I’m the chirpy one saying ‘come on, nearly there now’…annoying I know! I hope I’ll be feeling good on the day and encouraging everyone.

How much sponsorship money are you hoping to raise towards the £1500 team target?

LM: I’ll be happy if I raise £150 towards the team total…

PE: I’ve set myself a personal target of £300 which is double the amount we each need to raise in order to hit the team target…I like a challenge!

JY: I’m aiming to raise £300 which is the amount it costs Forget Me Not to cover 2 days of home from home care at Russell House or Grace’s Place Children’s Hospices.

Why should colleagues and friends sponsor you and support Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice?

LM: My parents had a child with a life limiting illness before I was born, he died aged 9 months. They didn’t get any help or support and have struggled with the loss for over 40 years. Forget Me Not offer support to all family members affected by illness or loss and they make such a massive difference. The more money they raise, the more families they can help – simple!

JY: They do some amazing work in North Manchester and West Yorkshire supporting children that have life-limiting conditions. Not only do they provide support for the children but also their families.

PE: It’s a truly wonderful charity doing work most of us would find impossible to do. The challenge itself is really tough and will take a monumental team effort to complete.

What are you most, and least looking forward to?

JY: Talking to Phil and Steve about how Liverpool won the Champions League for the 6^th time in Madrid for the entire duration of the walk…I’m not looking forward to the M6 and 3-hour drive home on Sunday!

PE: I’m looking forward to the start and finish…and a pint or 2 in the pub when we’ve finished! I’m not looking forward to the middle bit!!

LM: I’m most looking forward to eating cheese pie at the pub after we’ve finished!! And being part of such a worthwhile event…there will be lots of other people taking on the challenge that day so there will be great camaraderie.

If you’d like to donate to the Y3Peak Challenge inspiresport team, head over to our Just Giving page.