Andy Beeforth, the man who heads up Cumbria Community Foundation,  will take to the fells and sleep in a bivouac overnight in a bid to bring attention to the plight of those who can’t pay their fuel bills this winter..

But he’ll only do it if the Winter Warmth Fund receives the same amount of donations as last year.

That means that five thousand pounds needs to be donated in the next two weeks!

If a grand total of £42,000 is reached by February 14, Andy will be joined on the fell top by Cumbria Community Foundation Trustee Chris Tomlinson; Cllr Ben Berry, South Lakeland District Councillor for Windermere, Applethwaite & Troutbeck, Gary McKeating, Head of Socio Economic Development at Nuclear Management Partners and Richard Leafe, National Park Chief Executive, who are all helping in this year’s final push to boost the total.

Andy said: “We have been given £37,000 so far by people around the county. The donations range from £25 to several thousand pounds. It is heartwarming that hundreds of people have donated money to help older people stay warm this winter. BUT, we had £42,000 last year and were able to help 433 older people. I will be really sad if we can’t help at least as many people again. I am hugely grateful that people continue to be so generous despite the increased cost of living. But I’d like to see us push the total higher.”

Chris Tomlinson said: “We have had such extreme weather this winter, much wilder than last year and this makes it harder for us all to stay warm and safe. Older people especially feel the cold and our Winter Warmth Fund means that they can put coal on the fire, oil in the tank, electricity in the meter or use the gas cooker for hot food without worrying so much. We’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again, there are people who are choosing between eating food or heating their home right here in Cumbria this winter. Please help us help them.”

Cllr Ben Berry said: “Most of the houses in the area I am a councillor for are off mains gas and rely upon oil or coal for heating. We’re all seeing energy prices rise and facing the rising challenge of paying increasingly large energy bills. I decided to help Cumbria Community Foundation by agreeing to sleep out on the fells and raise awareness of this vital fund that helps older people in need.”

Gary McKeating, said: “I am always up for a challenge and sleeping out on a mountain before the daffodils are in bloom certainly will be. The Winter Warmth Fund is the only simple to apply for and quick to be issued grant available to older people this winter. The beauty of it is, it’s Cumbrian’s helping their neighbours and others in need across the county. What is raised here, stays here.”

The quartet will head for the hills overnight on the 16 / 17 February – if you’d like to help them reach the target before they sleep under canvas, you can:

Donate Online, donate by Text – Simply send a text message to 70070 including our code WINT37 (e.g. WINT37 £5 to 70070. You can donate £2, £5 or £10) or donate by cheque – payable to: ‘Cumbria Community Foundation’ and write ‘Winter Warmth’ on the back. Post to: Cumbria Community Foundation, Dovenby Hall, Dovenby, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0PN.

Anyone can donate to Cumbria Community Foundation’s Winter Warmth Fund and the money raised will be given directly to those in need.