Charity trek provides incentive to stamp on bad habit

Bar manager Karen Jacklin quit smoking to improve her health as part of a New Year's resolution. But unlike most, the decision was inspired by entering a huge charity walk – the 100km Oxfam Trailtrekker.

The 45-year-old from Cleethorpes knows that to finish the challenging June hike around the Yorkshire Dales, which can take 30 hours to complete, she will need to be in peak condition.

Ms Jacklin, who will be doing the Trailtrekker with three team-mates, said: "No one else in the group smokes so I'm the baddy, they've been ribbing me about it.

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"I call Kinder Scout (the highest climb in the Peak District) Cardiac Hill because I'm the only one out of breath and red faced."

The tough hike takes in the magnificent Pen-y-Ghent as well as the villages of Horton in Ribblesdale and Buckden.

Now in its third year, the Trailtrekker starts and ends in Skipton and teams have to walk through the night to complete it. Last summer 537 hikers raised a staggering 270,000.

Ms Jacklin mentioned the event to her hairdresser friend Becky Robinson, who thought she was "mad" but ended up joining the team.

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Paul Tipper, owner of Mitchells Bar, where Ms Jacklin works, and his girlfriend Sara Richards, a triathlete and fitness instructor, complete the foursome.

Ms Jacklin is putting tips from work and spare change found on the bar's floor towards the 1,500 that teams need to raise for charity.

To enter a team go to www.oxfam.org.uk/trailtrekker.