PEOPLE are being urged to sign up for a guided hike up Helvellyn in the Lake District to see the sunrise - while at the same time raising much needed funds for a Cumbrian charity.

The event – on Sunday, September 13 – will be led by an expert guide from Lancaster based Adventure Trails and will raise money for Cumbria Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service (CADAS)

The Sunrise Helvellyn Hike will set off from Wythburn, Thirlmere at 4am, and those taking part will reach the 3,116ft summit of Helvellyn just before sunrise.

“This is a brilliant opportunity to help a charity, meet up with people in a socially-distanced way and to reconnect with nature,” said Leigh Williams, chief executive officer of CADAS, whose fund raising has been hit hard this summer due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We would like each participant to pledge to raise between £100 to £200 for us through sponsorship, although it is not mandatory.

“We would love to fill the places because we have lost so many opportunities this summer to do our normal fund-raising. We really need people to step up to help us.”

The hike costs £25 with the charity needing to raise around £10,000 per week to run its services, which it is wanting to expand to help cope with the increased demand it is experiencing as a result of lockdown.

Money raised from the sunrise hike will go towards the cost of the helpline the charity established in May this year to provide support for people struggling with a wide range of unhealthy, addictive behaviours and towards the support services they offer to people struggling with their own, or someone else’s, problematic substance use.

The service also works with children and adults, with people in the midst of addiction and dependency and those in recovery.

Ms Williams added: “We see on average around 500 people each year for up to 12 hours of individual client time but we also touch the lives of between two and three thousand other people through our events and workshops.”

Places on the sunrise hike are limited so organisers are encouraging those who are interested to sign up as soon as possible.

Once signed up, they will receive a pack with a link to a fund-raising page, although people can create their own sponsorship sheet if they prefer.

They will also receive details about what kit to bring on the walk and tips on potential training tips they might do before the hike. Walkers will be led by qualified mountain leader Sean Bolland, who will also be able to talk knowledgeably about mountain flora and fauna, the local landscape and history.