MORE than 80 people will climb Snowdown - or 4,610 stairs - for a Conwy hospice.

Hope House Children's Hospice's first Snowdon Sunrise Trek was due to take place on Saturday, July 4.

While the Coronavirus may have cancelled plans for 84 walkers to climb Wales’ highest peak and watch the sunrise, the charity is now calling on volunteers to join in a virtual challenge using their stairs at home.

Fundraising Team Leader Sarah Ritchie said: “We have so many fantastic supporters who have already signed up for the event that we didn’t want to leave them without an alternative.

“So instead we are inviting everyone to join us for a Virtual Snowdon Stair Climb, by climbing to the height of Snowdon by using their own stairs at home.”

Sarah wanted to make sure the challenge was as realistic as possible, so has called in the experts at the Plas y Brenin National Outdoor Centre in Snowdonia to work out the details.

They have calculated that climbing Snowdon from the Pen-y-Pass car park is the equivalent of climbing 4,610 average stairs.

“The challenge can, of course, be done in your own time, but we are also encouraging everyone to consider doing it in the early hours of Saturday 4 when we would originally have been climbing the mountain,” added Sarah.

“To create a real team spirit we have an event page on social media for the climb and are encouraging people to post photos of themselves climbing their stairs. We will also live stream a Snowdon sunrise for everyone who is with us.”

It costs £20 to register for the Virtual Snowdon Stair Climb, with all of the money going directly towards providing vital care and support to terminally ill local children.

Every entrant will receive a bespoke Snowdonia slate medal, a Snowdon Stair Climb 2020 water bottle and a £5 discount voucher for the 2021 Snowdon Sunrise Trek.

To sign up, visit hopehouse.org.uk/events.