Steven's friends in trek for charity

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), Sept 11, 2008

Byline: By JOANNE DOUGLAS News Reporter

FRIENDS and family of missing Colne Valley man Steven Cooper took part in a 17-mile sponsored walk.

Sixteen people walked for eight hours to raise awareness of the work that mountain rescue teams do and raise money for them and a missing people charity.

Mr Cooper was last seen on January 21, when he left his home on Scar Lane at Golcar and drove up to a desolate area of Scotland after celebrating his 47th birthday.

There have been no confirmed sightings of the father-of-one since then and his family has been left wondering where he is.

His sister, Trish Cooper, has since been raising awareness of mountain rescue teams who helped to search for Steven and the charityMissing People, which has profiled his case nationwide.

"I'm proud of everyone who took part in the walk," she said. "Therewere 16 people and they must have walked about 17 miles. It took them about eight hours.

"Some of the people are regulars at The Sycamore pub at Wooldale and others were from Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team.

"It was just about raising awareness of the causes which have helped us as a family and do so much for other people.

"The mountain rescue teams are all volunteers and what they do it amazing. The money raised during this walk will hopefully buy some life-saving equipment."

Mr Cooper vanished without a trace and despite extensive efforts by the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team in Scotland he has not been found.

Ms Cooper added: "I always knew these teams did an amazing job, but it was not until my brother went missing that I saw it for myself.

"I have somuch respect for them; they don't get any funding and they pay for a lot of the equipment themselves.

"Since we started fundraising we have raised about pounds 5,000 and I can't thank people enough for their support. Having Steven missing is not getting any easier, but having things like this does help.

"It keeps our minds focused and helps us to carry on with everyday life." The money raised by the sponsored walk is already thought to have topped pounds 500.

It will be split between Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team, Missing People, the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team and the Search and Rescue Dog Association.

The gruelling route took them from the Sycamore to Upperthong, Hogley Green, FlushHouse, DigleyReservoir, Goodbent Lodge, Blackpool Bridge, Black Hill, Holme Moss, Cook's Study, Hade Edge and back to the Sycamore, where landlord Phil Carner and wife Sue provided the walkers with meals.

CAPTION(S):

SUPPORTERS GATHER: Friends of the family of missing man Steven Cooper on the sponsored walk which started and finished at the Sycamore pub at Wooldale to help raise money for mountain rescue teams and a charity for missing people (S); MISSING: Steven Cooper