A popular fundraiser and mum from Oldham had walked, ran and swam for miles to pay homage to her two friends who passed away during Covid - and to raise funds for mental health charities.
Sarah Tate decided to raise money for Andy's Man Club and Tameside, Oldham and Glossop (TOG) Mind after tragically losing two of her friends to suicide during the pandemic.
The 35-year-old said she felt compelled to raise money and raise awareness to mental health because "it's still a taboo subject, even now in 2022 which is very sad."
To go about her mission, Ms Tate initially completed an Olympic standard-length triathlon, composed of a 1.5km swim, 10km jog or walk and 40km cycle, in Saddleworth community leisure centre with her partner, John, which she completed in five hours.
However, the triathlon was just a warm-up to what was next to come: a 30-mile hike through some of Oldham and Stalybridge's beauty spots.
On Saturday, August 20, Sarah alongside four others, including representatives from Andy's Man Club, set off on their hike from Dovestones Reservoir to Carrbrook before ending at Hartshead Pike.
The walk was initially arranged in memory of Andrew Ives, the brother of Sarah's close friend, Joanne, who tragically took his life a month after he turned 30 in April last year.
Sarah said: "He was such a lovely lad.
"He was gay too which is why we wanted our dress code to be in rainbow and in bright colours and we had glitter on our faces.
"It was sort of loud and proud really."
Sarah said Dovestones and Hartshead Pike were two of the last places Andrew and his family had visited together during the height of Covid restrictions.
"Hence why we incorporated those places and his childhood history into the route.
"He always said when he visited those places that they brought him a lot of peace, so we wanted to pay homage to him by visiting those places.
"His mum came out to clap us on and his sister joined us for 20 miles, too."
The walk itself was initially arranged for Andrew, but Sarah decided to expand the fundraiser to be more inclusive of mental health, as opposed to suicide awareness, and include women by fundraising for MIND alongside Andy's Man Club.
But just 24 hours after making this decision, Sarah's friend Kaye Flynn also took her life.
"It was weird that we made that decision just 24 hours before we found out before her.
"Kaye had her demons pretty much all her life.
"She did battle with mental health issues.
"She was only 44 and has left behind two sons."
But the hike itself was a success, despite a few blisters and aches and pains.
In total, Sarah estimates the fundraisers have pooled in £600 which will be split between the two charities.
To follow Sarah's monthly fundraising efforts, follow her Facebook page Sarah’s Charity Challenges.
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