Robert's Munro challenge for Christian Aid
In seeking to help the world's poorest people Baptist treasurer, deacon and keen walker Robert Sneath has set himself his toughest challenge yet - to climb 32 Scottish Munros in 2015
A Munro is a Scottish mountain of more than 3,000ft, and Robert, of Barnoldswick Baptist Church in Lancashire, is responding to Christian Aid's 70 Munros Challenge - a year of walks marking the charity’s 70th anniversary.
Between February and October, supporters are climbing these summits to raise funds to fight poverty. Christian Aid hopes to raise £70,000 - £1,000 for each Munro - to contribute significantly to their work.
Robert will walk with the Christian Aid groups when they tackle the climbs he has planned. He will embark on his first climb next week (4 April), and even though an experienced walker, knows a tough time lies ahead.
This is partly because he raising funds alone: Robert has been involved in community-sponsored walks for Christian Aid for nearly a half a century, but for the first time in 48 years there won't be one due, to lack of manpower.
He is therefore hoping to raise a similar amount to what the community walks have done in recent years, which is around £2,000.
Robert, who took early retirement last year, said, 'This is definitely the greatest challenge I have ever set myself. I have only done one Munro, Ben Nevis, in the past, but I am a keen walker and I enjoy being out in the countryside. I enjoy it, even though it is hard work.'
To help explain the Munro challenge Christian Aid has used a Martin Luther King quote "I have been to the mountain top" - words which "invite us to not only look back at the past but also to the future."
Baptist Times, 27/03/2015