The team were guided on the trek by Group CEO, Professor Tony Romero, who has enjoyed leading this charity challenge for the past three years, raising more than £30,000 for different charities.
The chosen charity this year is in memory of a Cygnet colleague, Ann Fox, who passed away whilst on duty at Cygnet’s Tabley House nursing home in Knutsford, Cheshire.
Tabley House manager Deb Jones said: “Ann was a much-loved and valued member of the Tabley House team where she had worked for 11 years as a Care Assistant.
“During her time at Tabley House Ann enjoyed spending time with the residents, empowering them to lead fulfilled and dignified lives.
“Ann worked tirelessly behind the scenes, always putting the needs of others before her own. She was very much an integral part of the Tabley House Care team.
“Every day Ann demonstrated compassion and extraordinary empathy and kindness, her ability to connect to residents on a personal level brought comfort and reassurance.
“Ann’s loss has created a void that is felt deeply by everybody at Tabley House and we will continue to remember Ann in our own ways.
“Ann was supported by the Air Ambulance on the day of her death and we are thankful for the support they and the ambulance crews provided to her at such a difficult time and the charity walk is a recognition of their courageous work.”
The challenge took place on Friday 5 June, starting on the Watkin Path to the summit of Snowdon. After climbing gently up past waterfalls and rock pools the group arrived in the mountain valley of Cwm Llan. Here they left the Watkin Path to take an old miner’s path to the pass of Bwlch Cwm Llan where they encountered a short rain shower.
Luckily this was the only damp part of the walk, and as the team continued their climb over Allt Maenderyn and above the cliffs of Clogwyn Ddu, the cloud began to lift and the sun came out. After an enjoyable crossing of the narrow ridge of Bwlch Main the group finally reached the summit just over three hours after setting off. After a well-deserved break for food and drink in the Summit café, the team then enjoyed a leisurely descent along the Watkin Path whilst enjoying the dramatic mountain views.
Professor Tony Romero said: “I look forward to this every year as it’s a chance get to know different colleagues away from work and test our stamina and team spirit together.
“We were incredibly saddened to learn of Ann’s passing and when I visited Tabley it felt like a fitting tribute to do this year’s charity trek in her memory.
“Our staff go above and beyond for those in our care every day and Ann was a shining example of this. The testimonies I have heard from staff and residents show just how much she meant to Tabley and how much she is missed.
“We were proud to complete this challenge in her honour and raise much needed funds for the admirable work that air ambulances do across the UK.”
Air Ambulances UK is the national organisation championing and supporting the lifesaving work of the UK’s 21 air ambulance charities. Providing vital national funding to air ambulance charities, increasing awareness of their lifesaving work.