Walk to aid Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation and Leeds MND centre

A challenge of walking 50 miles in 20 hours is being faced by Louise Davison as she bids to raise funds for causes close to her heart.

The business support coordinator for Huddersfield architecture practice, Farrar Bamforth, will be aiming to raise £5,000 to be split between Leeds Hospitals Rob Burrow Centre for MND and Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation (WTCF) when she sets out to walk from her employer's base to the Superleague club on May 31.

Louise, 52, said: "One of the charities I’m supporting is Leeds Hospitals Charity with funds specifically going to the Rob Burrow Centre for MND.

"This is a cause close to my heart, having lost a beloved family member, my Aunty Pat (Whitehouse), to this disease in 2022."

She explained that the aptly named 50in20 walk celebrates 50 years in business for Farrar Bamforth and 20 years of the WTCF, the charitable arm of the rugby league club.

"MD, Tony Bowling, is a big Wakefield Trinity fan and got involved with the Foundation several years ago after taking his son to an autism sports club run by them," explained Louise.

"Farrar Bamforth has supported the Foundation ever since and is the main sponsor for the Learning Disability (LDRL) team.

"Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation do such amazing work creating inclusion through things like the learning disability, physical disability, and wheelchair teams as well as supporting many people in the community."

Louise, who is coordinating 50th anniversary events at her employers, added: "It was always the aim that Farrar Bamforth would incorporate a charitable endeavour into its 50th celebration and the 20th anniversary of WTCF offered a great opportunity to highlight both. "

People can choose which charity they’d like to support via Louise’s Just Giving team page, or they can split donations between the two. Louise has set a big fundraising target of £5000 in total.

She’s been training for this for weeks now and has the full support of everyone at Farrar Bamforth and WTCF.

The challenge really is exactly as it sounds – walking 50 miles within one 20 hour window.

Louise will set off from the Farrar Bamforth studio on Colne Road in Huddersfield and walk to the Wakefield Trinity stadium at Belle Vue in Wakefield, a distance of 25 miles.

She’ll be welcomed there by friendly faces from Farrar Bamforth and WTCF and take a short, well-earned rest before setting off back to Huddersfield, completing her epic challenge back at the studio within 20 hours of starting out that morning.

People can donate via Louise’s 50in20 Just Giving page. They can also follow Louise’s progress as she trains via Farrar Bamforth socials on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Follow the #50in20 hashtag.