More than 200 pupils, staff and parents from Brecon High School took on a marathon walking challenge in the Brecon Beacons to raise money for local charities, including the Brecon War Memorial Hospital.
Money donated by the school to the Hospital League of Friends was used to buy the hospital three new wheelchairs, which were presented to the hospital last Friday, December 14.
The walkers were joined by members of the Army for the 25-mile trek at the end of the school’s summer term.
On the day itself, the walkers all gathered at the high school at 7.30am for registration and to collect their bright blue T-shirts.
Teacher Jo Hosking then led the walkers as they made their way to Llanfaes before they took the drovers’ road to Storey Arms.
There Brecon High School staff were waiting to feed the hungry group with energy boosting food in readiness for the planned climb up Pen y Fan. Unfortunately at this time rain and dense low cloud descended and the decision was taken to re-route the walk as visibility was extremely poor.
Eager not to give up, the group trudged on retracing the drovers road to Cwm Gwdi where lunch was served by staff and parents.
The fourth section of the walk led through country lanes to Llanfrynach where the walkers were welcomed by the owners of the White Swan pub, who gave up room in their car park for “Ieuan the burger man” to set up and provide all the walkers and helpers with burgers and hot dogs.
With the walkers refreshed and well fed the pace of the walk now began to pick up along the canal path back into Brecon, with lots of the students battling to be the first person over the finish line at Theatr Brycheiniog.
All the walkers were greeted by Brecon High School head tacher Rob Broadbridge, who presented them with a commemorative china mug. A total of £5,095.34 was raised from the event.