Hat-trick aim for Press Officer Mark

Blyth Spartans Press officer Mark Carruthers is aiming for a hat-trick as he sets off for Scotland today to take on three of the highest mountains in Britain, all in aid of Parkinsons UK.

Mark will taking on Ben Nevis tomorrow(Friday), with England's highest peak Scafell Pike in his sights on Saturday before finishing the challenge with Mount Snowdon on Sunday.

A Blyth Spartans pennant will be making it up each of the Peaks to be proudly unfurled on each summit. "Everyone at the Spartans is right behind Mark and we wish him all the best," commented the club's General Manager Ian Evans.

Mark will be accompanied by his friend Mark Rutter from the Fast Feet Football Academy, who were guests at Croft Park for Easter Monday's fixture against North Ferriby United.

Our Mark said "It's great knowing that Mark is going to be right there alongside me. There'll certainly be a lot of football chat and banter over the weekend. We've been through a lot during the preparation for the challenge and I'm sure we will look back on this with some pride when we finish."

There is a serious purpose, however, behind his efforts. "I will be walking in memory of my Grandfather who passed away twenty years ago and he suffered from Parkinsons Disease for as long as I can remember so that's why the money will go to Parkinsons UK. It's going to be an emotional weekend with the memory of my Grandad driving me on so hopefully I can do him and my family proud. The target was to raise £1,000 but we are now over £2,000, which is amazing" said Mark.

Arun Malhotra from Parkinsons UK said: "On behalf of everyone at Parkinsons UK we are incredibly grateful to Mark and the team for undertaking such a difficult challenge. I hope their efforts will inspire other people in the North East to help raise vital funds to support our work within the region. A huge thanks to Mark and his colleagues and I wish them the very best of luck."

The pair have recieved backing from many different places including Radio Northumberland, Football Club Magazine and Mark's employer npower, who are matching the fundraising £4£ up to the first £1,000.

Marks' employer, npower, is also fully behind the challenge. Ruth Worton, npower's charity and volunteering manager, said "npower is proud of the fundraising involvement of employees and is delighted to support this project through the RWE npower Matching Funding Scheme which sees npower matching funds raised by employees for charity up to £1000. We wish Mark the very best of luck with is Three Peaks Challenge!"

"This is a step in to the unknown for me but I've never shirked a challenge," said Mark. "My partner Jaq is right behind me and we have planned a holiday in Portugal in three weeks to relax.

Jaq commented:" I'm very proud of Mark for taking this on and, given that the charity concerned is a personal one to him he is working hard to get himself ready. I've never seen him so motivated and focused and can only hope he carries that work ethic on when it comes to decorating and housework! Seriously though, I know he'll achieve all he wants to and do the Spartans, the charity, his family, myself and most of all, himself, proud."

To keep up to date with Mark's progress over the weekend there will be photos and tweets on his twitter account @markyc1982 and on Radio Northumberland

here

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Mark has setup a just giving page to take donations so if you wish to donate to Parkinsons UK please click

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As a further option you can donate by text message by texting 70070 with the code MPUK82 followed by a space and your amount in pounds, so to donate £5 you would text MPUK82 5.