Workington woman takes on charity challenges for Katy Holmes Trust

Former advanced nurse practitioner Leanne Adair, who worked at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, came across the Katy Holmes Trust online and was touched by the cause founded by Paula and David Holmes in 2012 following the loss of their daughter.

Leanne, 36, said: "I decided to sign up for a charity trek to Vietnam last August to raise money for them and that is where I met Katy’s mother Paula.

"We hit it off immediately and the trek was an amazing experience. I knew I couldn’t leave it there though, I just knew I had to do more to help.

"That was when I decided to sign up to their Canadian Rockies Trek in 2020."

To take part in next year's trek, Leanne needs to raise a minimum of £500, and she has set herself three challenges in the next three months to help raise the cash.

The first is a 150-mile coast to coast ride from Seascale to Whitby, which she is set to complete on June 29, despite never having ridden a road bike until November last year.

The former Stainburn School pupil said: "A friend suggested the coast to coast. She knew I was up to mad challenges."

That friend subsequently dropped out of the Coast to Coast in a Day event, run by Open Cycling, but, with more than 1,700 people due to take part, Leanne shouldn't get lonely on the journey.

She said: "I'll get to know people along the way. I'm really excited. Initially I was quite nervous when I realised what it entailed and I hadn't ridden before. It took me a while to get used to it."

There will be little time for the trainee reflexology teacher, who now lives in Nottingham, to rest after her cycling challenge.

She is gearing up for a wing walk in Essex on July 27, followed by a 24-hour challenge over the August bank holiday which will see her travel 70km, biking, canoeing and finally climbing Scafell Pike.

To support Leanne's fundraising visit