Staff at a residential care service in North Yorkshire reached new heights to raise almost £1,700 for charity when they conquered Yorkshire’s Three Peaks in support of the National Autistic Society.

Heathcotes Whitley specialises in residential support for individuals with autism, so the intrepid team had all the motivation they needed to take on the gruelling challenge in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. They completed Pen-y-Ghent (summit 694 metres), Whernside (summit 736 metres) and Ingleborough (summit 723 metres) in a time of 11 hours and 40 minutes.

Services Manager, Hollie Longfield, said: “World Autism Awareness Week takes place from 1st to 7th April, so we decided it was the perfect time to take on the Three Peaks for a cause that means a lot to everyone at Heathcotes Whitley. It was definitely hard going and I’m really proud of the team. We set ourselves a target of 12 hours to complete all three Peaks, so we were delighted to make it with 20 minutes to spare, with the daylight fading! Once we’ve collected all the cash sponsorship to add to the online donations, we should nearly double our fundraising target of £850, so it was very much worth the pain and effort.”

The National Autistic Society is committed to transforming lives, changing attitudes and creating a society that works for autistic people. The charity aims to increase opportunities, reduce social isolation and build a brighter future for autistic people. Further information is available at www.autism.org.uk.

Heathcotes Whitley is one of over 60 residential services which the company provides nationwide. With a head office in Chesterfield, Heathcotes Group specialises in person-centred care for adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs and associated challenging behaviours. The organisation has been a trusted partner to over 50 local authorities and Clinical Commissioning Groups since 2004.

www.heathcotes.net