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Mooving on up! Charity trek sees life-size cow carried to Snowdon summit
A team made up of rural organisations including Farmers Guardian completed a gruelling trek to the summit of Snowdon – with a life-size cow and her farmyard friends in tow.
Olivia Midgley
More than 70 people hiked the 4.5mile Llanberis trail up to Snowdon’s 3,300 ft peak in three hours and 20 minutes and have so far raised more than £3,500 for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI) and the DPJ Foundation.
Glamorgan dairy farmer and Cows on Tour founder Abi Reader, who organised the event, said: “We took a 90kg model dairy cow and also had a life-size model pig, sheep and lamb and a giant leek and potato.
"Despite her awkwardness the cow practically flew up the mountain, we were sometimes overtaking hikers.
“It was fantastic how many people stopped to ask us what we were doing, especially on our descent when many strangers took photos and donated money for our charities."
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The event was particularly poignant for Royal Welsh Agricultural Society chief executive and trek leader Steve Hughson, whose friend had taken his own life just weeks before.
"I actually attended my friend’s funeral the day before the walk. I think that shows just how real mental health issues within the farming community are. Events like this are vital in raising awareness of the issues the farming community face, often in silence."
Ms Reader, who also sits on NFU Cymru’s milk board, said the stunt aimed to showcase food and farming and reconnect with the public.
She added: “We are trying to counter the negativity which is sometimes aimed at farming right now by doing something fun, positive and attention grabbing.”
Donations have been flooding in for the event’s chosen charities, RABI which helps farmers suffering financial hardship and mental health charity the DPJ Foundation, set up by a farmer’s wife after she tragically lost her husband to suicide. You can still donate, visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/cowsontour
Cows on Tour is now preparing to visit various schools across Wales to teach children about the importance of farming and where their food comes from as part of a roadshow taking place from May 13-19.
For more information and for future events search ‘CowsonTour’ on Facebook.
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