A HUSBAND and wife are preparing to hike the Yorkshire Three Peaks to boost community fund We Love Lichfield and raise awareness of hearing loss.
Laura Evans, principal audiologist at Cathedral Hearing, and her husband Richard will be taking on the challenge on 4th July.
The 24-mile route up and down Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in under 12 hours.
While on the walk, Laura and Rich will be creating a sound map of the area – rather than an Ordnance Survey Map, theirs will be an Outside Sounds Map.
On the walk, they will record various noises and afterwards create a visual and audio 'map' including wildlife, other walkers and the elements.
Laura said:
"I want to explain how even simple activities like going for a walk can be experienced differently by people with hearing loss.
"Imagine walking through beautiful countryside and finding it harder to follow conversations with other walkers or missing some of the sounds around you, such as birdsong and wildlife."
At the same time, they hope to raise money for We Love Lichfield.
It is the second walking challenge they have taken on for the cause after scaling Snowdon in 2025.
Laura said:
"Supporting the local community is important to me. I have seen first-hand the difference We Love Lichfield makes to the people of Lichfield and the surrounding villages and want to continue supporting this amazing cause.
"We really enjoyed our Snowdon hike last year and wanted our next challenge. But this time I wanted the walk to help me reflect on the experiences of my patients. Creating our sound map will help to build awareness and empathy for people with hearing loss and encourage those impacted to seek support."
People can donate via an online fundraising page.
