Debbie's tribute to dad cost her 30lbs

Debbie Young lost her dad, Allan Hoole, in 2000 when he suffered a broken back and resulting fatal heart attack in a fall whilst hiking in Buckden.

Years on from his death, Debbie, now aged 43, of Dungworth, decided she wanted to raise funds for the UWFRA team that tried to save him.

“My dad’s injuries were just too severe,” said Debbie.

“But I will be forever grateful to Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association for the work they did to try and revive him and for the support they gave my mum, who was by his side at the time.”

Debbie signed up for a 255 mile bike ride from London to Paris, and immediately began training for the three-day challenge at her local gym, at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre.

Debbie, a strategic account director, said: “I’d never done anything like that before. I joined the gym to get fit for the ride, and it took me nine months to lose the 30 pounds required to be ready, which was really tough. When the charity heard why I was doing the challenge, they put me in touch with the person who attended my dad’s rescue mission and that really inspired me to push on.”

Debbie is also backing SIV’s new #feelgood campaign, to get people in Sheffield more physically active in 2016.

“The facilities at Ponds Forge are great and I try to go to the gym two or three times a week. Being a mum with the added pressures of a busy job, it’s tough trying to fit it all in, but I always feel better afterwards.”