There were several activities involved in this appeal:

1. a sponsored trek to the highest summit in each of the four nations of the British Isles by gallery directors, Michael and Hayley Jay and
2. a sponsored half marathon run by gallery manager Sarah Brittain
3. an auction of donated paintings and etchings by Great Atlantic artists
4. other activities by Christine’s many friends outside the gallery business

Sponsored trek:
Sunday/Monday 18th & 19th September.
The 4 summits trek began with a dash from St Just, near Land’s End to Fort William in Scotland (665miles) on Sunday Sept. 18th. The summit of Ben Nevis was reached by 1pm. on the following day in predictably atrocious conditions - cold, with heavy rain and high winds. A large cairn on the summit was festooned with tributes to former friends and relatives so we were not alone in seeing Britain’s highest mountain as a worthy place to remember our friend Christine.

Hayley Jay on the summit of Ben Nevis 19/09/05 with the tribute cairn to the right

This was a 10 mile round trip with just under 4,400’ of ascent followed by a 100 mile drive to Stirling in readiness for our next day flight to Shannon in Ireland.

Tuesday-Thursday 20th – 22nd Sep. – the trek to Carrantouhill, Kerry, Ireland.
We flew from Prestwick to Shannon and back, staying two nights near Killarney. Carrantouhill was first and last seen as we approached the mountains on Tuesday afternoon - to the west of the Gap of Dunloe at just over 3400’. If conditions on Ben Nevis were atrocious, those on the hike to Carrantouhill were diabolical - storm force winds, continuous heavy rain and falling rocks. We paused, soaked to the skin, at the top of the couloir leading to the summit ridge and considered our options with the storm roaring above us. We decided to proceed with caution. To have become lost or disorientated on the ridge would not have been good; nor would being blown over. Anyway, we made it there and back. Visibility was 20’ at best but the route was well marked and the summit distinguished by a very large iron cross. 10 miles round trip and 3400’ of ascent.

Hayley beneath the summit ridge of Carrantouhill Mike Jay - summit of Carrantouhill 1p.m. Sept. 21st

Mike Jay - summit of Carrantouhill 1p.m.

Friday 23rd September, Scafell Pike, Wasdale, Cumbria.
Having arrived the previous night via a flight from Shannon to Prestwick and a drive through the Borders and Lakes, we had camped at the foot of England’s highest massife. Conditions were wet and windy (so therefore merely miserable) on this trek, though navigation in poor visibility was a little more demanding on the rock strewn and featureless summit area. 6 miles and 3200’.

We then drove to Beddgelert in Snowdonia ready for the final summit – Snowdon on the following day. Reached the Forestry Commission campsite at 9.30 p.m.

Hayley enjoying the view on the summit of Scafell Pike. Midday Sept. 23rd

Saturday 24th September, Mt Snowdon, highest point in Wales 3560’
At last the sun shone! Visibility perfect, no rain, light winds. Wonderful. 6 miles and 2500’ via the P-y-g track from Pen-y-Pass.

On Snowdon’ s summit

looking back - note the views, visible for the only time in the week.

Summary: Approx. 1860 road miles traveled Approx. 700 air miles flown Approx. 32 trail miles walked & scrambled Approx. 13,500’ total ascent Money Raised for Cancer Research UK from our sponsors: £1483.30 so far Advice to anyone wanting to do this - - be very careful on Carrantouhill! - be sure of your navigation skills - take twice as long as we did

End of the trail - 4 peaks done, time to head back to Cornwall!

Sponsored half marathon run
Gallery Manager and Director of Art, Sarah Brittain and husband, Dom, bravely entered the Truro Half Marathon on Sunday 17th September. Completing the hilly course in 2 hours 39 minutes, the gallant pair were raising funds for the Truro based Mermaid Appeal. The Mermaid Centre is a specialist unit set up to support and treat those who, like Christine, have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Christine had lived with the threat of breast cancer through almost the whole of Sarah’s life.

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Other activities
It is a mark of Christine’s popularity that some very significant fund raising took place outside the gallery activities. Christine was a keen horse rider and based her activity at Higher Bostraze Farm just outside St Just. Her friends at Bostraze donated half the proceeds of their annual charity Dog Show to our Equinox Appeal (£355.96) and all of the proceeds of a sponsored ride to and from The Gurnard’s Head near Zennor in which 31 horses and riders participated.

A superb total of £2159 was raised from this activity.

Some of Christine’s riding companions at The Gurnard’s Head

Away from Cornwall, Hayley’s parents, who both knew Christine, held a Cancer Research UK fund raising evening at the Sandwich Bay Sailing and Waterskiing Club in Kent on Saturday 15th October and raised in excess of £700.

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So, as of 17th October 2005, the total amount raised for:

We hope to present the money on November 4th.

The organizers of The Equinox Appeal send their sincere thanks to all concerned – corporate sponsors who donated money and/or goods and services, private sponsors, artist donors, art purchasers, friends at Bostraze and at Sandwich Bay. Have no doubt, our late friend and colleague would have been impressed and pleased.

We hope to make the Equinox Appeal a registered charity that will regularly honour the memory of Christine Rogers in aid of worthy causes.