Kind-hearted Wigan fund-raiser organises £10k Three Peaks challenge for colleague

Danielle McIntyre, from Aspull, set up the GoFundMe page to support Jackie Butterworth, who also works in the Serious Crime Division at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and is going through a cancer battle.
By Andrew Nowell
Published 24th Sep 2020, 17:51 BST
Updated 24th Sep 2020, 17:58 BST
The team at the end of the Three Peaks challengeThe team at the end of the Three Peaks challenge
The team at the end of the Three Peaks challenge

Jackie was diagnosed with breast cancer last November but then received the devastating news that it is secondary and incurable.

Danielle was talking to a colleague about supporting her and her family and they came up with the idea of tackling the Three Peaks in Yorkshire.

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The idea quickly spiralled and 30 people set out on the gruelling 25-mile circuit taking in the summits of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.

Craig and Jackie ButterworthCraig and Jackie Butterworth
Craig and Jackie Butterworth

And such is Jackie’s popularity among her colleagues at GMP that Danielle’s fund-raising page has now raised an extraordinary £10,600.

Danielle said: “We’ve done really well. Our target was only £2,000 so we’ve exceeded that. It’s amazing.

“It just came from a conversation with my colleague. We were talking about walking in general and wanting to do something for Jackie and it just escalated.

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“When we asked colleagues if they would be interested it just got bigger and bigger. Everyone was sharing it on Facebook and with family and friends.

Craig performs one of his songs during the trekCraig performs one of his songs during the trek
Craig performs one of his songs during the trek

“The Three Peaks was one of the hardest things we’ve ever done, but it was totally worth it. It took us about 13 hours.

“We took a cardboard cut-out of Jackie with us and she was there to meet us at the end. Jackie’s husband Craig took a guitar with him and he played a song with lyrics he had written at the top of each peak, which was lovely.”

Danielle and her colleagues had originally intended for the money in the fund to support Jackie and her family.

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However, Jackie decided she wanted to donate it to charity, with four good causes benefitting.

The cash is being split between Ronald McDonald House, which provides accommodation for families whose children are in hospital, Willow Wood Hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne, Secondary Breast Cancer Research and cancer support charity Maggie’s.

Danielle said: “Jackie being Jackie, she’s donating all the money to charity.

“Apart from Ronald McDonald House they are all small charities which are really struggling at the moment because of Covid.

“People haven’t managed to do much fund-raising so this money should make a real difference.”

To find out more or donate to the fund, visit https://uk.gofundme.com/f/h9c2y-yorkshire-3-peak-challenge

Related topics:Wigan