Group honours club hero in three peaks charity hike

A group of about 50 people are planning a fundraising hike across a county's three highest peaks to raise money in memory of a woman who supported youngsters to play football.

Wendy Jones, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died in 2023, helped hundreds of local children at FC Hanley in Stoke-on-Trent.

On 18 May, her friends and family will tackle The Roaches, Oliver Hill and Cheeks Hill over a 16-mile route in Staffordshire to raise money for a trust in her name.

They hope to raise more than £5,000 from the walk to add to a further £5,000 they also hope to raise from a charity golf day.

Ms Jones was a "formidable lady" who "didn't suffer fools gladly", said hike organiser Ant Munday.

"She was a real driving force; somebody who gets up and gets things done every day," he added.

Ms Jones set up a "swap shop" for families who could not afford boots and football shirts to ensure their children were kitted out for matches.

The trust continues, as her legacy, to support children in Stoke-on-Trent.

"She was relentless," her son Nathan Jones said.

"It's nice hearing someone speak so highly of my mum and the fact that there's still so many people willing to put on fundraisers in her memory.

"Considering it's been two years now, she still lives on pretty strong."

The trail is known as Staffordshire's three peaks challenge, and many members of the group taking part have been in training for the walk since the end of last year.

They will set off in two groups of 25, from either end of the walk, and meet up in the middle.

Members of the team have been tasked with raising £100 each.

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