Lonan resident Erin Quine, aged 35, will be joined by 34 fellow trekkers from Lloyds Banking Group to take on the mountainous challenge ‘Peaks for Pudsey’, tasking the team to scale 24 peaks in just 24 hours. Taking place on 18 September, the newest fundraising initiative from the Group will be raising money for its Charity of the Year, BBC Children in Need.

Peaks for Pudsey will lead the keen fundraisers up a variety of famous peaks in the Lake District, including the challenging ascent of 3,116ft up Helvellyn Mountain, as well as scaling 3,208ft up Scafell Pike. Spilt over two days, the trekkers will have to cover 28kms in 12.5 hours on day one, and 23kms in 10 hours for day two, if they are to make the finish line on time. As an additional obstacle to the challenge ahead, the team will be carrying BBC Children in Need official mascot Pudsey Bear to the top of every peak.

As a team, Peaks for Pudsey have a fundraising goal of ?100,000. Erin, who has been with the Bank for 15 years, was inspired by Davina McCall’s fitness workout video’s to apply, and is attempting to personally raise ?2,500 as part of the challenge to help BBC Children in Need ensure that children and young people in the UK have a safe, happy, secure childhood and the chance to reach their potential.

Erin said:

“This will be an amazing experience and sense of achievement, both personally and by giving something back to others less fortunate than me. BBC Children in Need have helped fund lots of projects on the Island and I want to see this continue. I am really excited about being part of this challenge and helping make a real difference to people’s lives."

Erin is now focused on preparing herself for the climb, as well as lots of fundraising to reach her personal goal of ?2,500. These include Pudsey and Blush making an appearance at the Strand Shopping Centre on 15 August, a family quiz night at the Legion on 28 August, bag packing at Tesco on 30 August and a car wash at the Grandstand on 3 October.

Sarah Monteith, Director of Marketing and Fundraising for BBC Children in Need, said:

“As a charity we rely on the generosity of others to continue our vital work. Every penny raised by colleagues across Lloyds Banking Group will go towards helping to change the lives of children right here in the UK. We’d like to say a big thank you for their efforts and encourage their local communities to get behind them on their challenges.”

Lloyds Banking Group has committed to raising ?22million through colleague fundraising for its charities of the year by 2020. The Group’s charity partnership with Children in Need forms a key part of the Group’s commitment to bringing communities together to help them thrive, laid out in its Helping Britain Prosper Plan.”

To sponsor Erin please visit https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/erinquine.  Or if you can support Erin with donations of raffle prizes, equipment she may need on her challenge and training advice, please contact her on 638277.