Latest news with #HopeHouseTŷGobaith
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Hiking feat for Hope House Tŷ Gobaith children's hospices
The 26-strong team from the manufacturing engineering operations department of Airbus UK in Broughton, are taking on the revered Three Peaks challenge on Friday (June 13) and raising funds for Hope House Tŷ Gobaith children's hospices. Starting at Scotland's Ben Nevis at about 2pm, they will then travel in coaches down to Scafell Pike in the Lake District, which they will traverse overnight, to finish at Wales' highest point, Yr Wyddfa on the Saturday afternoon. Read more: Matt's epic tribute raises £50,000 for children's hospices The team are no strangers to charity treks having completed four other distance challenges that have raised tens of thousands of pounds for the hospices. Claudia McKinlay from the team, said: "We're really excited for it. As well as giving to this amazing charity, it's fantastic team building. "We'll push through somehow and just hope the weather is kind to us." Accompanied by experienced mountain leaders at each site, the team are hoping to complete the challenge in just 24 hours. Read more: Every moment matters - Wrexham hospice launch funding campaign Department head, Guy Jones said: "It's our biggest challenge yet. We'll be travelling on three coaches and have arranged guides to help us through. "There's still some snow on Ben Nevis but we're really looking forward to it as part of our fundraising commitment to Hope House Tŷ Gobaith. "We're even doing a fundraising trip up Mount Kilimanjaro next year." Read more: 'Incredible day' - Charity car show raises over £2,400 for good causes in Deeside Area fundraiser for the hospices, Nicky Eyes is supporting the colleagues and said: "Guy and the Airbus team are just amazing. "Their enthusiasm is infectious - they always push themselves to help us raise the money we need to provide the best possible care to local children and families living with a life-threatening condition. "You can do it and we're rooting for you every step of the way." • You can sponsor the team online via their JustGiving page here:
Leader Live
04-06-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Clwydian Range hike carrying fridge freezer for Hope House
To honour a family bet made last year with Vicky, on Sunday May 31, Matt set off on a 70-mile hike across the Clwydian Range with a 90lb fridge freezer strapped to his back. Speaking of the incredible trek, ex-Marine Matt said: "I had to go deeper than ever before and take myself back to Commando training 23 years ago. "My whole body was screaming, and I hit breaking point early on after a fuelling error. Support for Matt Jones during his children's hospice fundraiser. "In the toughest moments, it was Vicky's voice through our four children that was telling me: 'You've got this, be you'." Vicky had been a passionate supporter of Hope House Tŷ Gobaith children's hospices, which has bases in Oswestry and Conwy, so Matt decided to start a tribute fund for the hospices in her memory and use the bet as a spur for fundraising. The bet came about last September when Matt was recovering in hospital after a total hip replacement operation. Read more: Matt said: "The surgeon was telling me I had to slow down. "Vicky was sat in the corner laughing whist telling the surgeon, 'You might as well talk to a brick wall'. "She then told the surgeon: 'Knowing this idiot he will try and complete it again with a fridge on his back'. "I replied: 'I will do it twice, with a fridge freezer on my back'. "Smiling and laughing whist shaking her head, Vicky said: 'You've got yourself a bet Mr Jones'." Matt Jones during his fundraiser in memory of his wife Vicky. The 42-year-old, who keeps himself fit by playing rugby, added: "The wind on parts of the route made the fridge freezer like a sail. "With the team by my side, we didn't stop. By the three peaks at Moel Fferna, it was all or nothing. "The distance in this wasn't the issue, it was the 15,000ft of elevation. Read more: Optician Dawn set sights on half marathon charity fundraiser "We crossed Vivod as a team and came into Llangollen surrounded by family and friends with two hours to spare on our 36 hour limit. "This challenge was never about fitness. It was about honouring a promise to my kids and keeping Vicky's spirit alive. "Vicky's mantra was: 'You are the only you, own it, rock it, feel it, embrace it, love it, and be it… be you!'. "Thank you to everyone, family, friends, supporters, I could not have done it without you. Especially Rich, Rob and Simon - the best support and pitstop crew I could have asked for. Read more: Every moment matters - Wrexham hospice launch funding campaign "We raised a lot of money for Hope House and if it inspired you even a little bit, then we've done our job." Hope House Tŷ Gobaith fundraiser Vicky Bradbeer, said: "Wow! We are lost for words with Matt and his team's effort. "What an incredible challenge and the most beautiful of tributes to Vicky and example to his children who must be extremely proud. Read more: Man living with condition urges people to join him at Wrexham's Walk for Parkinson's "It's an amazing amount of money that has been raised and will go directly to providing free professional nursing and respite care to local children and families living with a life-threatening condition. "Thank you so much to everyone involved and to those who have so kindly donated and supported Matt with this unbelievable challenge" • It's not too late if you would like to donate, visit online at: You can follow Matt on social media: Instagram: @fridge_freezer_man or Facebook: Fridge freezer man
Wales Online
04-06-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
'My whole body was screaming but I'd bet my late wife I'd do it'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A man has slogged 70 miles over the mountains of Denbighshire with a 90lb fridge freezer strapped to his back. Former Royal Marine commando Matt Jones took on the 'idiot' challenge to honour a bet made with his late wife. En route he walked the 35-mile Llangollen Round, an event held every three years that climbs more than 7,500ft through the Dee Valley. Unlike other participants, he did it twice, completing the trek in 34 hours. Driving him on were the words of his wife Vicky, who died just before Christmas. He said: 'I had to go deeper than ever before and take myself back to Commando training 23 years ago. 'My whole body was screaming, and I hit breaking point early on after a fuelling error. In the toughest moments, it was Vicky's voice through our four children that was telling me, 'You've got this, be you'.' As Vicky had been a passionate supporter of Hope House Tŷ Gobaith children's hospices, which have bases in Oswestry and Conwy, Matt launched a tribute fund in her memory. The idea of the freezer challenge came about when Matt was recovering in hospital after a total hip replacement operation last September. In a moment of bravado, the building firm boss found himself striking a bet with his wife. He explained: 'The surgeon was telling me I had to slow down. Vicky was sat in the corner laughing whilst telling the surgeon, 'You might as well talk to a brick wall'." Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community (Image: Tyn Dwr Hall) Matt continued: 'She then told the surgeon, 'Knowing this idiot he will try and complete it again with a fridge on his back!' 'I replied, 'I will do it twice, with a fridge freezer on my back'. Smiling and laughing whist shaking her head, Vicky said, 'You've got yourself a bet Mr Jones'.' Terrain on the Llangollen Round includes open moorland, limestone grassland, woodland and an ancient green road. Also on the route is Telford's World Heritage site Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Matt, a 42-year-old father of four who keeps himself fit by playing rugby, said the distance was less of an issue than the 15,000ft in elevation gain. Despite hours of training – including sandbag squats in his kitchen – he admitted to being 'nervous and slightly scared' of failing to finish. Along the way he was backed by family, friends and a support crew. After pushing too hard on the first 20km he 'nearly blew a fuse'. At one point he had to return home because 'my body was shutting down', putting the entire challenge in jeopardy. (Image: Matt Jones) In the early hours of the morning, after three hours of sleep, he got going again. He said: 'The wind on parts of the route made the fridge freezer like a sail. By the three peaks at Moel Fferna, it was all or nothing. 'We crossed Vivod as a team and came into Llangollen surrounded by family and friends with two hours to spare on our 36-hour limit. This challenge was never about fitness. It was about honouring a promise to my kids and keeping Vicky's spirit alive. 'Her mantra was, 'You are the only you, own it, rock it, feel it, embrace it, love it, and be it… be you!'' Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox By the end of his heavyweight trek, Matt had raised £50,000 for his local children's hospice. Hope House Tŷ Gobaith fundraiser Vicky Bradbeer said it had been an 'unbelievable challenge'. 'Wow! We are lost for words with Matt and his team's effort,' she said. 'What an incredible challenge - the most beautiful of tributes to Vicky and an example to his children, who must be extremely proud.' 'It's an amazing amount of money and it will go directly to providing free professional nursing and respite care to local children and families living with a life-threatening condition.' It's not too late to donate by clicking here. Find out what's happening near you
North Wales Live
04-06-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
'My whole body was screaming but I'd bet my late wife I'd do it'
A man has slogged 70 miles over the mountains of Denbighshire with a 90lb fridge freezer strapped to his back. Former Royal Marine commando Matt Jones took on the 'idiot' challenge to honour a bet made with his late wife. En route he walked the 35-mile Llangollen Round, an event held every three years that climbs more than 7,500ft through the Dee Valley. Unlike other participants, he did it twice, completing the trek in 34 hours. Driving him on were the words of his wife Vicky, who died just before Christmas. He said: 'I had to go deeper than ever before and take myself back to Commando training 23 years ago. 'My whole body was screaming, and I hit breaking point early on after a fuelling error. In the toughest moments, it was Vicky's voice through our four children that was telling me, 'You've got this, be you'.' As Vicky had been a passionate supporter of Hope House Tŷ Gobaith children's hospices, which have bases in Oswestry and Conwy, Matt launched a tribute fund in her memory. The idea of the freezer challenge came about when Matt was recovering in hospital after a total hip replacement operation last September. In a moment of bravado, the building firm boss found himself striking a bet with his wife. He explained: 'The surgeon was telling me I had to slow down. Vicky was sat in the corner laughing whilst telling the surgeon, 'You might as well talk to a brick wall'." Matt continued: 'She then told the surgeon, 'Knowing this idiot he will try and complete it again with a fridge on his back!' 'I replied, 'I will do it twice, with a fridge freezer on my back'. Smiling and laughing whist shaking her head, Vicky said, 'You've got yourself a bet Mr Jones'.' Terrain on the Llangollen Round includes open moorland, limestone grassland, woodland and an ancient green road. Also on the route is Telford's World Heritage site Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Matt, a 42-year-old father of four who keeps himself fit by playing rugby, said the distance was less of an issue than the 15,000ft in elevation gain. Despite hours of training – including sandbag squats in his kitchen – he admitted to being 'nervous and slightly scared' of failing to finish. Along the way he was backed by family, friends and a support crew. After pushing too hard on the first 20km he 'nearly blew a fuse'. At one point he had to return home because 'my body was shutting down', putting the entire challenge in jeopardy. In the early hours of the morning, after three hours of sleep, he got going again. He said: 'The wind on parts of the route made the fridge freezer like a sail. By the three peaks at Moel Fferna, it was all or nothing. 'We crossed Vivod as a team and came into Llangollen surrounded by family and friends with two hours to spare on our 36-hour limit. This challenge was never about fitness. It was about honouring a promise to my kids and keeping Vicky's spirit alive. 'Her mantra was, 'You are the only you, own it, rock it, feel it, embrace it, love it, and be it… be you!'' Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox By the end of his heavyweight trek, Matt had raised £50,000 for his local children's hospice. Hope House Tŷ Gobaith fundraiser Vicky Bradbeer said it had been an 'unbelievable challenge'. 'Wow! We are lost for words with Matt and his team's effort,' she said. 'What an incredible challenge - the most beautiful of tributes to Vicky and an example to his children, who must be extremely proud.' 'It's an amazing amount of money and it will go directly to providing free professional nursing and respite care to local children and families living with a life-threatening condition.' It's not too late to donate by clicking here.
North Wales Chronicle
03-06-2025
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Hope House challenge to honour bet with his late wife
Calling it the hardest physical and mental thing he has ever done, Matt Jones will be raising money for Hope House Tŷ Gobaith children's hospices, a charity that was very dear to his wife, Vicky. Last September Matt was recovering in hospital after a hip replacement when a quip from Vicky to his surgeon turned into a family joke and bet. Matt said: "The surgeon was telling me I had to slow down, or I would cause further damage to other parts of my body. "Vicky was sat in the corner of the room laughing whist telling the surgeon, 'You might as well talk to a brick wall'. "I'd fractured my ankle and tore my Achillies during the Llangollen 50k race in 2018 and my body mechanics haven't been right since. "Vicky then told the surgeon: 'Knowing this idiot he will try and complete it again with a fridge on his back'. "I replied: 'I will do it twice, with a fridge freezer on my back'. "Smiling and laughing whist shaking her head, Vicky said: 'You've got yourself a bet Mr Jones'." The couple's children brought the subject of the bet back up in conversation during January and it was known as 'One Bet'. "They asked me if I would do it - I said yes and training began soon after." Starting on Saturday, May 31, Matt has given himself 36 hours to take on more than 15,000 ft of elevation gain and 112km in distance across the Clwydian Range with a fridge freezer on his back. Matt says the training for the challenge has been of great comfort and the mountains have become his 'church'. "I'm doing this to honour Vicky's mantra and to help people believe in themselves. "Vicky's mantra was: 'You are the only you, own it, rock it, feel it, embrace it, love it, and be it… be you'. "I didn't think I would be able to do something like this after the operation, but Vicky knew I could do it. "The training has been brutal. Without doubt the hardest training I have ever done, mentally and physically. "The mountains have become my church." You can follow Matt's epic adventure on social media: Instagram: @fridge_freezer_man or Facebook: Fridge freezer man Anyone who would like to sponsor Matt can do so online here:
