Heroic Tadcaster team battle gruelling mountains in memory of Sonny Lang

A brave team of Sonny Lang's closest friends are taking on a series of gruelling mountain challenges to raise money for St James' Hospital.
Tad vs Mountain team after 3 Peaks challenge (s)Tad vs Mountain team after 3 Peaks challenge (s)
Tad vs Mountain team after 3 Peaks challenge (s)

As part of #TeamSonny, the 16 Tadcaster residents are taking on the National 3 Peaks, the Welsh 3000’s and the Everest Challenge in memory of Sonny Lang.

Sonny died aged 23 in February this year following a lifelong battle with Cystic Fibrosis, sparking an outpouring of grief from the Tadcaster community.

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Her tragic death inspired the team to take on the series of challenges in order to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis ward at St James’ Hospital.

Sonny Lang died in February this year after Cystic Fibrosis battle (s)Sonny Lang died in February this year after Cystic Fibrosis battle (s)
Sonny Lang died in February this year after Cystic Fibrosis battle (s)

Family friend Adam Reeve said he and the team were keen on raising money for the ward after witnessing first-hand their “fantastic work and care” for Sonny.

He said: “Obviously we were all great friends with Sonny and her mum Anna and when she passed away, one of the guys wanted to do something for St James’.

“Quite a few of us had been to the hospital to visit Sonny when she was there having treatment and we saw how fantastic they were with her.

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“It was very easy to get other people to sign up because of how many people were so close to her and they all wanted to give something back.

Sonny Lang died in February this year after Cystic Fibrosis battle (s)Sonny Lang died in February this year after Cystic Fibrosis battle (s)
Sonny Lang died in February this year after Cystic Fibrosis battle (s)

“But since then there’s been a bit of ‘what have we let ourselves in for?’ The team have really put the hours in and there’s been a lot of blood, sweat and tears.”

On Saturday, July 16, a team of eight conquered the three highest peaks in Scotland, Wales and England in 23 hours.

However, the Everest team and Welsh 3000’s team were forced to delay their challenges following deteriorating weather conditions over the weekend.

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Adam said the two teams were devastated they couldn’t complete their tasks but stressed plans were already in place for a second attempt at both challenges.

The team have already raised almost £5,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis ward and Adam said he has been “blown away” by the reaction.

He said: “When we first put the idea on social media, the response was fantastic. All our friends and family got behind it straight away by raising £1,000.

“Anna has been overwhelmed that we’re doing it as well and is so thankful Sonny had such close friends. It brings back how much Sonny meant to us all.”

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Tadcaster was left in mourning when Sonny passed away on February 9, but the town pulled together and managed to name the new footbridge in her honour.

Adam said that he was not surprised by the town’s reaction to her death as she was the “lifeblood of the community”.

He said: “Sonny was everything in Tadcaster. She was a little bundle of joy who lived life to the full.

“Her outlooks was so incredible for someone dealing with the inevitable. But, you would never have guessed it because she never moaned.

“She was so infectiously happy and that’s why she had so many friends.”

To sponsor the team - visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TADVSMOUNTAIN