- September 4, 2023
Following the success of the Reading Rowathon, a team of our consultants recently completed another demanding physical challenge in an attempt to raise a whopping £1500 for our chosen charity of the year, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
The Challenge:
- Conquer the National Three Peaks — Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa — within twenty-four hours
- Covering a collective 23 miles (37km)
- An ascent of 3,064m (10,052ft)
- And numerous minibus journeys totalling 462 miles
Here is their account of how they got on!
“Before: We set off on our journey armed with enough food to feed a small army! As we arrived to Ben Nevis in time for departure, right on schedule and with the weather looking dry and warm, we were eager to get underway.
During: The majority of the first peak went without a hitch, the little cloud at the summit even parted for us to have a picture by the trig point. We were pleased to be back at the bus in 4 hours and 45 minutes, 15 minutes ahead of schedule!
Lots of rest was attempted on the six-hour drive to Wasdale, but it didn’t feel like much, as we rolled out of the van at 11pm and got kitted up to start our second peak. Spirits quickly lifted but the going was tougher; feeling the walk we had already done, stiff from sitting in the van. We soldiered on, praying the peak would be around the next corner, the lack of light making the finish line impossible to see and only a squiggle on the GPS to follow. Luckily, we made it back without any injuries or tumbles on the way and were greeted by a nice cup of tea at the van, just in time for Storm Antoni to make its presence known and the rain to start. In clean, dry clothes we were back in the van and on our way again.
As the morning light drew in, as well as it could through thick rain clouds, so did the mountains of Snowdonia and our final peak. We again set off at a march, mainly this time to actually get warmed up although that pace quickly dropped! Despite concerns of whether the whole team would make it, spirits were rising and the end was in sight. It wasn’t long before we were all back on the bus heading back to Manchester for everyone to make their way home and get some well-earned sleep. A finishing time of 23 hours and 14 minutes, one we were all proud of especially considering the weather during the final climb.
Conclusion: What an incredible journey it has been! Scaling the three highest peaks of Scotland, England, and Wales in well under 24 hours, all while raising funds for an exceptional cause. The initial goal of £1500 was not only met but surpassed, with the JustGiving page currently holding over £3500 in contributions (and still open for donations)!
Thank you all to those that have donated and supported this challenge so far! We’re passionate about making a difference and will continue to push ourselves this year to support this incredible cause.
