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Mayor of Westhoughton, Councillor Neil Maher is doing a Charity Challenge in March 2025. Councillor Maher writes “I have served 22 years in the armed forces and 20 with the NHS. In 2018, to celebrate my 60th birthday, I walked Hadrian’s Wall unaided, and at the same time raised funds for local charities. Unfortunately, less than 12 months later my health and fitness progressively deteriorated.

Finally, last April I had a heart operation, following which I struggled to walk to the corner shop! However, I aim to get fitter and healthier again. So, I have set a challenge to walk up Snowdon unaided by March 2025 (circa 12 months after the operation), and raise money for 3 local charities:

Senior Solutions – is a local charity in Westhoughton providing regular social events for older residents of the town. The growing number of attendees gain personal benefits from social interaction and through health and wellbeing activities.

Westhoughton Assist – working hard to respond to food poverty and disadvantage in Westhoughton through their community food shop. They have been supporting households facing financial issues to access affordable food supplies, help and advise since 2020. In 2021, they opened a Community Shop in Westhoughton to help local people avoid food poverty and stay well.

The Darren Deady Foundation – The foundation was created in the memory of Kingsman Darren Deady who lost his life whilst serving in Helmand province, Afghanistan. It provides invaluable support to local veterans who have fallen on harder times, by providing temporary accommodation, meals and a variety of support channels. The foundation has recently taken over a former council building to provide more accommodation and welfare facilities. However, it is in need of repair and refurbishment.

I hope that you will be able to donate and follow my challenge to walk to the summit of Snowdon.”

The Mayor of Westhoughton, Councillor Neil Maher writes a diary of his training for the Snowden Challenge.

Week 1 - 31/10/24 - “This week I started my build up for the challenge in anger, with a 1.5hr walk to the top of Rivington Pike. The aim of this initial walk was to get the feel of walking on undulating ground, with a moderate challenge of an assent, and practice using walking sticks. I reached the top, but the fine views from the top were totally obscured by fine rain and thick mist, (better luck next time).”

Week 2 - 07/11/24 - “Today I walked 7 miles covering 3 local peaks of Rivington Tower, Two Lads and Winter Hill. Again the mist was down, the ground very wet and boggy. For those that know, my picture of me at the base of the very tall Winter Hill mast is typical of this time of year (better luck next time)!!!

This walk was a bit of a jump up from the last, a little more challenging, and one I probably need to repeat.”

Week 3 - 14/11/24 - Mayor of Westhoughton, Cllr Neil Maher, has completed his third week of training, watch the video to find out how it went!

Week 4 - 20/11/24 - Mayor of Westhoughton, Cllr Neil Maher, has completed his fourth week of training, Cllr Maher said “Today, at last the mist has gone, replaced by deep snow and bright sunshine. The snow hid the boggy areas very well, which can be a serious hazard in this area. So, I was most grateful of the dear that had gone down the route I was taking earlier which identified the firmer areas.

Overall it was a good 3hr walk over the hills from the direction of Belmont to Turton Tower, returning via a circular route. Lovely views but no pics, (someone forgot to bring their phone, will do better next time).”

Week 5 - 27/11/24 - Another 3hr walk across the top of the hills from Rivington to Belmont and return route. The ground was very boggy, and the mist came down again! 

Last time out, my boot got stuck in the mud and I bent my walking stick extracting myself. Not to worry, daughter Stephanie got me a new pair as birthday present. So, today was an opportunity to give them a whirl

Week 6 - 04/12/24 - A video for this weeks challenge update from Cllr Maher.

Week 9 - 24/12/24 - After a busy few weeks as Mayor in the run up to Christmas you can watch Cllr Maher's Christmas Eve update on training for the Snowden Charity Challenge.

Week 10 - As you can see from the pictures, my latest walk across the hills was very white. The 3.5hr outing was cold, and hard going due to the deep snow (particularly so in places) making walking more difficult and trackways being totally obscured. More than once I managed to find the wrong place to put my boot!!! Though my navigation skills were tested I happy managed to find may way back to the car :)

Week 11 - A video update on today's walk in some unexpected sunny weather.  Plus pictures of Winter Hill whence I came, and of Turton Tower from the same spot, the direction of travel to my mid point target of today's walk.