Team Harrison Holidays put their best feet forward

The team from Harrison Holidays have been putting their best feet forward with some fundraising pursuits that have seen them embarking on trekking, walking and marathoning adventures.  This has all been in aid of some local charities close to their hearts.

First out of the blocks was Elise Robertson, who is Group Finance Director and a new member of the Harrison Holidays team.  In May she took on what’s described as “England’s toughest mountain challenge”, aptly named Lakes 3000, because all the summits top 3,000 feet.  The aim is to complete Scafell Pike (3210ft), Scafell (3209ft), Helvellyn (3120ft) and Skiddaw (3050ft) within 12 hours, which this year’s participants smashed in 11 hours.

Lakes 3000 is an annual trek organised by the Chronicle Sunshine Fund, a North East charity that provides specialist and adapted equipment to children aged 0-19 living with disabilities, additional needs, chronic and terminal illness.

​A fun party atmosphere got things underway for Elaine Stocker, who set off on the Star Trekk almost at the same time as Elise was completing her trek in the Lakes.  Taking in the bright lights of Southport, she joined hundreds of other walkers on a seven mile moonlit walk around the town and surrounding area all to raise funds for Queenscourt Hospice.  As the walkers made their way around the nearby villages, including Birkdale and not too far from Riverside Holiday Park where Elaine is based as a Holiday Home Owners Administrator, they were greeted by the pink ribbons adorning trees and buildings to welcome and support them.

 

Queenscourt Hospice supports the communities of West Lancashire, Southport and Formby and this is the 17th year that Star Trekk has taken place, but the first time that Elaine has participated. Elaine has been part of the Harrison Holidays family for 23 years and although she’s not done anything like the trek before thoroughly enjoyed taking part.

Our third wonderful member of the Harrison Holidays team is in the throes of a full on training routine as he prepares for a 50 mile linear run across the heart of the Lake District, known as the Lakeland 50.  Alex Atkinson is an inspiration.  Amazingly, it was only in 2020 that he started running when he was looking for something to keep himself occupied during the Covid lockdown.  Beginning at a 5k run, it wasn’t long before he was reaching 10k and kept increasing his targets, progressing to half marathons and then on to the full marathon distance and beyond.

 

This has led him to the Lakeland 50, described as “one the greatest ultra-trail challenges in Europe, perhaps the world”.  It will take place on Saturday 29 July and is Alex’s first run for charity.  He has chosen to support EPIC KIDZ, which gives under privileged children across Lancashire and beyond access to various sports and activities.

By day Alex is in charge of stock control and finance at Harrison Holidays’ head office in Southport, but running is such a passion that you may see him out training.  His favourite holiday park for running is Percy Wood because he enjoys the Northumberland countryside and the nearby coastline and endless trails.

All this talk of walks, treks and runs might have inspired you.  Spending time at a Harrison Holidays holiday park could be the perfect time to enjoy such pursuits (perhaps in a slightly more relaxing way than our charity adventurers!).

To start planning a short break or holiday, get to know our holidays parks in greater detail or how you could own your own holiday home.