Porvair's Science colleagues to take on daunting fundraiser

Employees of the Wrexham manufacturer Jamie Lloyd, Tim Hughes, Richard Baker, Craig Lloyd, Justina Baltrunaite, Marie Power, Elizabeth Handley and Michelle Wardare are taking on the national Three Peaks challenge involving Ben Nevis, Scafell Pyke and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) - all to be conquered in succession.

All money raised will be donated to The National Society for Phenylketonuria (NSPKU), a rare metabolic disorder that leaves the sufferer unable to metabolise phenylalanine, an amino acid found in protein foods. As a result, they follow a complex and highly restrictive diet.

Proud fiancé of Jamie, Harriet Byrne, was born with the condition and has gone from strength to strength to not only build her dream career as a qualified hairdresser, but to support others with the disease online.

Through social media, the 28-year-old shares meals and recipes safe for those with PKU. Harriet also offers 'quiet hours' for clients with learning difficulties through her work.

Those with PKU require regular blood testing, eat prescriptions and low protein diets, as well as weighed and monitored foods. It is enormously emotional and extremely challenging for any parent of a diagnosed child.

The wonderful team at Porvair's Science Ltd with Jamie and Harriet (Image: Jamie Lloyd)
Jamie and his work colleagues have been preparing for the challenge to take place over the weekend 23-25 August. The aim is to walk 37km and a total ascent of 3,064m a day. It also includes driving nearly 500 miles of the UK to reach each peak's destination. 

So far, over £2,330 has been raised of their £10,000 target. A life-changing total for any worthy charity. See the team's Just Giving page here.

Jamie said: "Training is already underway and the team are giving up a lot of their spare rime to prepare for this demanding feat.

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"I wanted to do this as we occasionally have big charity events at porvair, but I think this is the biggest one we've done. The charity is close to home as Harriet really does have a difficult life because of PKU but she handles it so much better than I would be able to.

"She's got a lot of mental strength and physical strength and will power to follow a strict diet and do regular blood updates etc with the dietitian to make sure she's on the right track and she lives just like anyone else would through hard work.

"Given that the charity is so small, I thought anything we could do to raise awareness for her condition would help."

We wish Jamie and the team huge success with their challenge.