FUNDRAISER MARK UP TO SUMMIT 

Lockdown has inspired one of the Foundation of Light’s biggest supporters to find a new way to top his previous fundraising pinnacle. Mark Nolan is taking on the vEverest Challenge in aid of the Foundation – a virtual bike ride that is the equivalent of cycling all 29,000 feet of Mount Everest! Mark, from Peterlee, has been a regular member of the Foundation’s annual Cycle Challenge team, pedalling great distances to raise money for the football club’s official charity. With news that this year’s ride to Pisa had fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mark set about looking for an alternative way to both support the Foundation and fill in his time! As a result of more and more events being cancelled online and virtual alternatives growing increasingly popular, this is when Mark recalled reading about ‘vEveresting’: “I have always been someone who enjoys a challenge.” Mark explained. “With this year’s Italian Cycle Challenge unfortunately not going ahead; I had to look for something else to challenge the body. I became aware of ‘vEveresting’ over the winter months, whilst training indoors, and always thought ‘no way’, but as the pandemic grew and events began to be cancelled it became the one big challenge that needed to be done.” Mark plans on taking on the gruelling uphill challenge on Monday 1 June and is keen to raise as much money for a cause close to his heart. “Without trying to be cheesy; I’m aware that charities are losing out all over the country this year and what better charity to try and help out whilst hopefully completing an epic challenge at the same time,” Mark added. “My wife and I both live and work in the local community and regularly see first-hand the exceptional and far reaching work that the Foundation does.” Mark is being sponsored by Hydraulic Technical Services (NE) Ltd and Norcam Hydraulic Services Ltd, two major north east companies with huge reputations around the country.