Joel Hardaker will soon be joining his work colleagues, Sebastian Pope and Ben Nicholls, on a difficult challenge where they are already training very hard on their bikes and which Joel described as 'sounding a bit crazy' but one they are determined to complete.
 
Their plan is to set off on a Friday in September from the headquarters of the Paul Sartori Foundation in Haverfordwest, cycle up to Llanberis, deep in Snowdonia, climb Wales' highest mountain on Saturday and then the following day, surely with very tired legs, make the long journey back to Haverfordwest.
 
"My wife Anna's aunt received wonderful support from the Paul Sartori Foundation during her battle with cancer," Joel told us, " and we came up with this slightly different way of raising funds to help them continue their work in the community, as a small 'thank you' from our family.
 

Terrific support for some tiring leg work

 
"I enjoy cycling and when I mentioned what I was thinking of doing to my colleagues in Aldi, Haverfordwest, where I am assistant manager, Ben and Bas jumped at the chance to come with me - and the company, led by manager Tom Goldbach, and rest of the staff, have also been very supportive.
 
"The trip to Llanberis is approximately 130 miles and features some very challenging hills to climb as we wend our way through Cardigan, Aberaeron, Aberystwyth, Machynlleth, Dolgellau and especially around Blaenau Ffestiniog.
 
"I read somewhere that the hill climbing we do on our trek there and back is equivalent almost to getting to the top of Mount Everest!
 
"In between we have our climb up to the summit of Snowdon and then with tired legs somehow make an early Sunday start so that we get home before dark!
 

Working hard in training – and a good start with bingo!

 
"We have worked hard at fitness already and now our next job is to encourage family, friends and fellow sportsmen/women to help us with a donation, no matter how small. Anna's father, Mike Smith, is well known in sporting circles as a former footballer, top squash player and groundsman at Haverfordwest Cricket Club – and he helped Anna, Bas, Ben and I set up a special bingo evening at the club where we raised more than £700 to get us off to a flying start!.
 
"One of the pre-challenge tests for me was taking part in the Tour of Pembrokeshire and I was pleased to finish the 108 miles in about eight hours because there were lots of hills around our county to help with the gradients we are going to face in mid and north Wales.
 

More hard work in challenging events

 
"Then I took part in the Velathon Wales, which comprised about 80 miles from Cardiff to Newport, on to Caerphilly and back to Cardiff - and that is another very hilly course so I was delighted with a time of five hours or so.
 
"More recently I also completed the Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club's 'duathlon' around Neyland, which started with a run, then a cycle and then another run. Someone did suggest I try a full triathlon at some time but although I enjoy cycling and running my swimming is almost a total wash-out so that would need a lot of coaching if ever I try that!
 
“To help get fit for the climb up Snowdon I also ran the Cardiff Half marathon, as I did last year, and was pleased with my time of two hours 29 minutes because I wasn't feeling well at the time, but decided I had to run anyway.”
 

Footballer at the Cricket Club!

 
Outside of all this training for his big event, Joel is also involved with the football at Haverfordwest Cricket Club and readily admits to being a staunch Everton supporter who used to think he was the only one until he found out that Mark White, who runs Ocky White Travel, loves a visit to Goodison Park as well!
 
"I loved kicking a ball around as a nipper and joined Merlins Bridge Juniors, where I was coached by Wyndham Morgans and Trefor Morgans - and because I was so tall for my age I was immediately stuck in the team at centre half.
 

Accident-prone ‘Bambi’!

 
"I still play at the back now and perhaps I haven't gained too much in terms of poise and balance because Mike Smith once described me after a match in which we both played as 'Bambi on ice'!"
 
“Perhaps he got that right because in one game I went up for a high ball and landed awkwardly but carried on playing, despite the pain. He even went to work on the Monday and it was only when the pain got too bad in midweek that I went along to Accident & Emergency and ended up for weeks in plaster with a broken leg!
 
“I also broke a wrist in a collision with team-mate Jamie Cato but I knew it was broken straight away that time!”
 

A few trophies along the way

 
"Mike and his pal Tudor Walters have been great in building up the football section of the Cricket Club and I can't have done too badly because I have won the 'Most Improved Player' and 'Clubmen of the Year' awards during the time I have played for them.
 
"A highlight was gaining promotion and doubling up with the divisional cup as we beat Herbrandston in a tight final at Monkton Lane, which showed the terrific spirit that we had built up.”
 
When the club needed a second team manager Joel agreed to do the job and it was only when work commitments made it difficult to play every week he stood down from playing for a short while.
 

And finally . . .

 
He did help out Llangwm last season for a short while when they were short of players but intends returning to The Racecourse this season, once his fund-raining challenge is over.
 
“I am overwhelmed by the support we have been given so far and we would like to thank everyone who has got involved in some way to help us raise cash.”
 
The ‘Snowdon Challenge’  is certainly occupying Joel Hardaker’s spare time at the moment as the intrepid trio work at their fitness for the big weekend in September.
 
They know it is going to be challenging but are spurred on by the fact that they are set to raise a considerable sum for such a worthy cause as the Paul Sartori Foundation – and we wish Joel and Co every success.