By Emily Parsons

Last updated at 16:54, Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Four people will brave the winter weather and spend a night on the fells – if the public can help meet a charity’s target.

Andy Beeforth

Cumbria Community Foundation’s (CCF) annual Winter Warmth Fund is drawing to an end, but it is currently £5,000 short of last year’s target.

The fund is used to help people who struggle to pay their fuel bills over the cold winter months.

Andy Beeforth, director of the charity, has now pledged to spend a night on the fells if the public can help bring the total to the £42,000 raised last year – and there are just two weeks left to do it.

He said: “We have been given £37,000 so far by people around the county.

“The donations range from £25 to several thousand pounds.

“It is heartwarming that hundreds of people have donated money to help older people stay warm this winter, but we had £42,000 last year and were able to help 433 older people,” said Mr Beeforth.

“I will be really sad if we can’t help at least as many people again.”

He added: “I am hugely grateful that people continue to be so generous despite the increased cost of living. But I’d like to see us push the total higher.”

If the £5,000 is raised, Mr Beeforth will be joined on the fell top by Chris Tomlinson, CCF trustee, Windermere councillor Ben Berry, and Gary McKeating, head of socio-economic development at Nuclear Management Partners.

Mr Beeforth is liaising with Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team to get advice and support, to ensure the team is properly equipped and the final plans are safe.

They will not accompany the adventurers.

Mrs Tomlinson said: “We have had such extreme weather this winter, much wilder than last year, and this makes it harder for us all to stay warm and safe.

“Older people especially feel the cold and our Winter Warmth Fund means they can put coal on the fire, oil in the tank, electricity in the meter or use the gas cooker for hot food without worrying so much.”

Mr McKeating added: “I am always up for a challenge and sleeping out on a mountain before the daffodils are in bloom certainly will be.

“The beauty of it is, it’s Cumbrians helping their neighbours and others in need across the county.

“What is raised here, stays here.”

The quartet will head for the hills overnight on February 16.

Donations can be submitted by texting WINT37 and the amount to 70070, by visiting www.justgiving.com/winterwarmthfund or by sending a cheque payable to Cumbria Community Foundation, with Winter Warmth written on the back, to Cumbria Community Foundation, Dovenby Hall, Dovenby, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0PN.

For more information on the fund, visit www.cumbriafoundation.org.

First published at 16:42, Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk