A PAIR of retired mental health nurses from Bromsgrove plan to tackle Peru’s famous 26-mile Inca Trail in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society.
Yvonne Richards and Pam Butts, both 56, are hoping to raise more than £3,000 for the cause with a ten day charity trek to Machu Picchi.
The duo plan to fly out to South America on November 7 and embark on a gruelling challenge which will test their limits with temperatures between 23 and 28 degrees Celsius in the day and below zero at night.
In the meantime, the pair have also organised a charity quiz night to take place at the Hop Pole Inn, on the Birmingham Road this Sunday (June 7). Yvonne and Pam have invited the residents to go along from 7.30pm and support their cause.
Yvonne and Pam, who have already raised about £600, have been doing plenty of training at the Clent, Malvern and Lickey Hills. Along with this they have also been attending Zumba classes once a week to get ready for the big trek.
Yvonne said: “We have always worked within mental health and with the elderly so it is something we are very supportive of.
“It is such a worthy cause and we do not feel that enough is being done for it to be honest.
“Dementia is on the increase as well.
“It will be amazing if we can raise enough to meet our target and help people live longer with dementia and have longer and more comfortable lives for as long as possible and maybe even find a cure.
“Everyone has been really supportive – some said we were mad, some wished us luck but they are all backing us.”
Yvonne added they planned to walk for about eight or nine hours day and visit all the sites.
She said they did something similar walking the Great Wall of China for the cause five years ago so they decided it would be nice to do the Inca Trail as well.
Yvonne added: “I am definitely looking forward to it – it will another great experience – it also will help keep us fit.”
Visit https://www.justgiving.com/richardsbutts2/ to donate to pair’s fund-raising mission.
