Four friends will scale Britain’s highest peaks this weekend in memory of two Ipswich women who died after being hit by a car in 2009.
Emma Harold and Kate Wasyluk tragically lost their lives when a car collided with them and Beccy Rutter in Foxhall Road on February 21, 2009.
Mrs Rutter, now 32, suffered life-changing injuries in the crash, which happened while the group were walking home from a social event in the town.
A car – which was being driven by speeding drink-driver Scott Nicholls – mounted the pavement, killing Miss Harold, Beccy’s sister, and her best friend Miss Wasyluk.
Now Mrs Rutter’s husband Liam, 31 – along with three friends Chris Annone, Ian Edwards and Kevin Edwards – are taking on the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge to remember the two women on Saturday.
They will attempt to climb Mount Snowdon in Wales, Scafell Pike in Cumbria and Ben Nevis in Scotland in just 24 hours to raise cash for road safety charity Brake.
“I’m just really thankful to all of them for doing such an extreme challenge to raise so much money,” said Mrs Rutter, who is mum to Letisha, 15, Hayden, nine, and Azariah, three.
“I find it amazing because initially it was just them talking about the walk, but then it became about the charity and the other guys are less linked to it.
“It’s quite encouraging to hear them get excited about that side of it.”
Speaking about her recovery, the mum-of-three said she still experiences “a lot of pain”.
The 32-year-old, who lives in Ipswich, is still recovering from injuries she suffered in the crash – which included bruising to the brain.
She added: “I’ve made improvements, but I think I’m probably at my peak at the moment.
“It will all go one way which is why I’m having adaptions made to my home for wheelchair use. I’m not permanently in a wheelchair now but I look to be in the future. I don’t know when that will be, but I would rather do the adaptions when I’m more able than make for them to creep up on me.”
Although Mrs Rutter admits she still struggles with what happened, she remains positive and talks to her children about Emma and Kate.
She said: “It depends how I feel, sometimes for me it’s really hard. Other times I can look back and smile at the time I had with both the girls.
“Especially when I talk to my children about it, I want them to be looking and thinking about things, but never forgetting.
“I always try to make sure they are well known to my children, even my youngest because she never met them. I always try to make sure she’s aware how much they both meant to me and we look back on the good memories, rather than sad ones.”
The four men hope their challenge will raise £1,000 for Brake.
To sponsor the group, visit their JustGiving page.
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