A group of 16 walkers from Sandbach have set off on the Three Peaks Challenge – to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and bowel cancer. 

The walkers are walked up Ben Nevis in Scotland on Friday, Scafell Pike on Saturday and finally Snowdon today (Sunday). 

The event has been organised by friends Simon Hilton and Chris Horn for whom MND and bowel cancer is close to their hearts. 

Simon Hilton's late father, Les, lost his fight to MND in 2021.

More recently Chris Horn, a maintenance engineer from Elworth, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in September 2022. His brother, Stephen Horn, helped set up a 'go fund me page' here with donations flooding in. 

Chris had a major operation to remove the tumour and as a result has a stoma. Following his operation and three months of chemotherapy, Chris was thankfully given the all-clear in February this year. 

MND affects up to 5,000 adults in the UK at any one time and there is a one in 300 risk of getting MND across a lifetime. 

It can affect adults of any age but is more likely to affect people over 50. MND is life-shortening and there is no cure. 

The sixteen set off from Sandbach United's car park in Hind Heath Road on Thursday morning. (Photo: Nub News)

Although the disease will progress, symptoms can be managed to help achieve the best possible quality of life. 

Bowel cancer meanwhile is the fourth most common cancer and second biggest cancer killer in the UK. 

"Both the MND Association and Bowel Cancer UK research, improve care and provide support for people with MND or bowel cancer, and for their families and carers," say the duo. 

"We're excited and looking forward to the challenge," they said before setting off on their journey to Scotland from Sandbach United Football Club in Hind Heath Road. 

The sixteen are taking a mini-bus, van and car on their epic challenge and can be followed on Instagram here

Donations for their epic challenge, which will be split between the two charities, can be made here