Over the years we have built a close relationship with many people in the local Patterdale community; we rely on the goodwill & generosity of the landowners and residents in the valley so try to put something back into the area on an annual basis.
Patterdale School & Nursery
All the refreshments at the Playing Fields are provided by the Patterdale School Support Group; the School is jut a stone’s throw away from the race start & finish and has fewer than 30 pupils. Each year the School Support Group needs to raise funds to help ensure the survival of the school; the 2026 race raised £3045 from the refreshments which makes a huge difference to the school.
After the 2026 race we made an additional donation of £200. If anybody would like to make a separate donation to the school you can get in touch with them via the Patterdale School website.
Glenridding Village Hall
The Village Hall in Glenridding plays a central role in community life within the Patterdale valley. It is a registered charity and serves as a central point for the many functions and events that take place across the calendar year. Like many other properties close to the centre of Glenridding the Public Hall was badly affected by the effect of Storm Desmond, but since then regular fund-raising events, as well as much time and hard work, have had a dramatic effect on improving the fabric of the building and it is a real credit to the area. We were happy to support Glenridding Public Hall with a donation of £250 after the 2019 race which we know was very gratefully received and put to good use.
Click here to read more about Glenridding Village Hall
Glenridding First Responders
The local team of First Responders are currently fund-raising for 5 new Defibrillators to help in emergency medical situations. We are pleased to give them a donation of £100 after the 2026 race.
Fix the Fells
Natural England, The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) and The National Trust generously allow us to organise our relay race, which means all our runners get to enjoy the terrain around the Patterdale valley, making it one of the largest fell-running event in the Lakes.
We all have a responsibility to look after the land that we use, and some of our route passes on footpaths through Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s). To help maintain and restore mountain paths in the Lake District we make an annual donation of £100 donation to Fix the Fells , and you can make your own donation at the same website should you wish.
Landowners & Farmers
There are many individual landowners & farmers that we rely on each year without whose cooperation the race could not take place. These include Robin & Andrea Taylforth (of Side Farm), Robert, Alan & Eric Wear (at Hartsop), Robert McCosh (Dalemain Estates), Chris & Jimmy Brown (Deepdale Hall), Jimmy Hodgson (at Hartsop Hall) and Kirkstone Inn. Please make sure you respect their land by sticking to footpaths when in the valley areas & following marked routes when you are supposed to!
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Association
Patterdale MRA are based opposite the Playing Fields. The team cover an area of 140 km2 and we have been greatly indebted to their assistance on the occasions that have demanded it during the running of the race (fortunately not too frequently!). In 2023 we made a £100 donation to their funds.
You can support Patterdale Mountain with your own donations, you never know when you might need their help. Patterdale MRT
Marshals & helpers
Those of you who help organise races will know the large debt we owe to the volunteers (because that’s what they are) who help us out with marshaling the race route. Come sunshine or come rain, they willfully attend check-points in sometimes exposed places & lousy weather; they also provide their time & travel costs free-of-charge, for which we are incredibly grateful.
John Muir Trust
The John Muir Trust recently took responsibility for managing the land around Helvellyn known as Glenridding Common which encompasses the summit, Striding Edge and Swirral Edge. Their work is specifically aiming to protect the local ecosystem and we are delighted to support their fund raising for the first time in 2018 with a donation of £250. You can read more about their work here and make a voluntary donation if you wish.