A member of staff at The Wetherby Whaler restaurant and takeaway in Pudsey has tackled The Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge, which raised more than £300 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. 

Gareth Thompson, 33, who is a Kitchen Supervisor at the restaurant based on Lowtown, hiked the 26 miles with family members, defeating Whernside, the highest peak in Yorkshire, which stands at 2,415 ft, Pen-Y-Ghent (2277ft) and Ingleborough (2372 ft) all in under 12 hours. 

The Wetherby Whaler is an iconic brand throughout West Yorkshire and stands out as a symbol of the success of fish and chips in the area. Bought by its current owners, Philip and Janine Murphy, in 1989, The Wetherby Whaler is now run with the help of a second generation, their daughters, Joanne and Caroline. 

Janine Murphy, Co-owner of The Wetherby Whaler, said: “Everyone at The Wetherby Whaler in Pudsey is really proud of Gareth. A lot of our members of staff take part in fundraisers and we are always happy to support their brave efforts.” 

Gareth Thompson said: “I decided to take on the Yorkshire 3 Peaks last New Year’s Day as my New Year’s resolution over a pint with my family- when the challenge didn’t seem so hard! It was a really tough hike but I wanted to push myself to fundraise for the Motor Neurone Disease Association as it does fantastic work throughout the country and I feel that it is so often overlooked.

“I’d like to thank the staff at The Wetherby Whaler in Pudsey and everyone else who sponsored me for their support. I’m now thinking about next year’s challenge!”