A team of intrepid trekkers have raised more than £300,000 for St John's Hospice from an epic walk along the Great Wall of China.
Teams of 82 people representing the hospice took on sections of one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, returning to the site of the first ever hospice trek to mark the charity's 40th birthday year.
Along the way trekkers explored some of Beijing's most historic sights including the Forbidden City, Tianamen Square and the Pearl Market, and also had the chance to watch a traditional Chinese tea ceremony.
Paul, one of the trekkers, also raised £520 to have his very long beard shaved during the trip!
The Great Wall of China was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.
With a history of more than 2,000 years, the total combined length of the wall is more than 20,000km long - equivalent to the distance from the UK to the USA over the Pacific Ocean.
Sponsors Brades Farm in the Lune Valley provided the teams with trekking tops.
A blog on the St John's Hospice website followed the adventures of the trekkers this month, and explained the origins of the team's trek motto 'Fudge It!"
"Today we proudly wore our Fudge It glasses in memory of the (Brades Farm) family’s beloved niece, whose catchphrase was simply ‘Fudge It!’
"Fudge It means so much more than just a word. It means giving yourself permission to have a go. Stop worrying about whether it’s perfect. Stop doubting yourself. Just make a start and do something that makes you happy.
"Life can be tough, so you might as well have a laugh, embrace the madness and enjoy the journey along the way. The family have carried on her legacy, and today we were incredibly proud to carry it with us too."
The trek from September 5-20 took place after nearly two years of planning, fundraising and training, with trekkers spending months preparing for the challenge, building fitness, stamina and confidence through a combination of regular walks, hill training and dedicated sessions at the Ashton Memorial steps in Lancaster.
You can still support the trekkers via Just Giving HERE.
Read up on both teams' trek stories on the Trek Blog HERE.
St John's Hospice on Slyne Road in Lancaster provides free palliative care to patients with life shortening conditions.
Here are more photos from the trek.
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