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Hague's dad nets £51,000 for kids on Scafell Pike
THE elderly dad of South Yorkshire-born Tory politician William Hague made great strides to help needy children - by climbing England's highest peak for the NSPCC.
Nigel Hague, of Greasbrough, Rotherham, raised 51,000 in sponsorship by scaling Scafell Pike, in the Lake District in seven-and-a-half hours.
Nigel, who turns 81 next month, said: "We couldn't have wished for better conditions. When we reached the top we could see as far as Scotland and the Blackpool Tower.
"The climb was 12 miles altogether but it was a steep, arduous ascent followed by an even harder, rockier route down.
"You don't see many 80-year-olds up there and that's probably because it's tough on the old legs."
He added: "I spoke to William afterwards and I think he was proud of my effort, particularly because I've managed to raise so much money.
"I would have been happy to raise 5,000 for the NSPCC, so to raise 51,000 is above and beyond what I could have hoped for. William is a keen walker too and he climbed Helvellyn with me last year but unfortunately he couldn't join me for this one."
Nigel - a keen hiker who walks six to seven miles a day - walked with David Powell-Thompson, from TV's Wainwright Walks, and two other friends, Jilly Gennard from Thorpe Hesley and Robin Dawkins from Oxford.
Claire Reading, NSPCC community fundraising manager, said: "The money he's raised could help to answer 12,750 calls to ChildLine or train 31 volunteer counsellors at ChildLine. As a volunteer-led charity we rely on the generosity of the public and this is a fantastic donation that really will make a difference to children's lives."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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