Who We Are
Yvonne Booth
The annual 10in10 challenge was designed and created by Yvonne Booth in 2011. It was her response to her husband Duncan’s diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis in 2010 at the age of 39. As a wife and mother of three sons, she wanted to do something positive and help raise money for research into this cruel illness. Since then, Yvonne has been recognised as ‘fundraiser of the year’ in 2013 by the MS Society UK and works tirelessly for the cause. Multiple Sclerosis is a debilitating neurological disease with no cure.
Every June, hundreds of people walk over ten mountains in ten hours or five mountains in five hours. As well as the annual event, there is now the opportunity to tackle one of the three classic 10in10 routes at any time of the year in either Borrowdale, Newlands or Buttermere. New in 2016 saw the launch of the ‘No Cure Always Hope Ultra run’. Duncan’s brother, and top class fell runner, set the 39 mile Challenge, combining all three 10in10 routes with 17,000 ft of accent to encourage other fell runners to help raise money for the MS Society UK.
The 10in10 and 5in5 challenges are organised by Yvonne and a huge band of very experienced local outdoor enthusiasts, who have grown up walking and running in the lake district fells. They bring an incredible amount of experience and knowledge to the events, and their passion for where they live, and the fells makes the 10in10 the huge success it is.
The Booth Family have dedicated their lives to helping find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis and would encourage anybody to come and join in these incredible events.
Duncan Booth
Duncan Booth was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis on 1 June 2010 at the age 39 . He was an elite rock climber, worked full-time as a teacher in a local primary school and had three young sons. He had spent his life outdoors – he was an amazing rock climber and had put new routes up rock faces that haven’t been repeated since. His name is against a number of first ascents in the Lake District and overseas.
His legs had become heavy and felt ‘uncomfortable’ – just one visit to a neurologist confirmed his and his wife Yvonne’s worst fears and their lives changed forever.
So, six months later, determined to do something to help fund research into this devastating neurological disease, the idea of creating an annual challenge was born. People would be encouraged to walk up and down ten mountains in ten hours and raise money through sponsorship for the MS Society.
During the first 10in10 Duncan decided to do his own fundraising and swam across and back over 10 lakes in under 10 hours.
Since then the 10in10 has gone from strength to strength. Each year he also undertake a challenge which keeps him focused and gives him motivation. These challenges have been all about adapting.
- In 2012 Duncan learned to row a beginner’s boat, culminating with a ten hour row through the night on Derwentwater, clocking up 39km.
- In 2013 Duncan got a faster, thinner boat and rowed ten hours through the night on Thirlmere, clocking up 72km.
- In 2014 Duncan rowed the length of all the lakes in the Lake District over a 48 hour period.
- In 2015 Duncan climbed some easy, long routes in the Dolomites, and a couple of Via Ferrata.
- In 2016 Duncan climbed the Old Man of Hoy. The Old Man of Hoy is a 449-foot (137m) sea stack on the island of Hoy.
- In 2017 In 2017 Duncan took on one of his hardest challenges yet. He cycled his electric bike to his cousins wedding in Sweden, covering 1,000 km unsupported. It was an incredible journey, taking him through Holland, Germany and Denmark to get there. In 2018 Duncan and Yvonne were invited to attend a reception with The Prime Minister, at 10 Downing Street. It was to celebrate advancements in MS Research. Please read about all of Duncan’s fundraising challenges in his blog. Duncan is the inspiration behind the 10in10 events and he continues to inspire and encourage daily.
Assisted by a huge amount of volunteers!
Our ethos is to ensure we leave nothing but footprints on the mountains on the 10in10 and 5in5 events. Please respect the fells and leave NO trace!
Waste is a huge issue for outdoor events and that includes human waste. When you are out on the hills and valleys, be sure to be a picker upper and carry everything out with you.
We restrict the number of participants to 500. Our volunteer marshals walk back along the route to ensure nothing is left behind. We also avoid using signage along the route.
Make sure your read the Country Code
