Three Peaks conquered in aid of Child Bereavement charity

LAST weekend, a team of fit and intrepid people set off from Thame to tackle the famous Three Peaks Challenge for a very special reason, and they did it, albeit just outside the target 24 hours. Team member Sue Martin-Downhill recalls the lows and the highs:

Nigel Pattison, Sue Martin-Downhill, Debbie Gray, Mary Hill, Ellen Gipp, Andrew Stansfield or John Maitland – not necessarily in that order!

What a weekend! 12,000 miles covered just to walk 25! But those 25 were serious mountain walking climbs. All in aid of Child Bereavement UK; a charity that supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.

On Friday, May 15, a team of people from Racquets Fitness Centre in Thame travelled up to Northern Scotland to Fort William, a drive of 10 hours. A false sense of wellbeing resulted from a wonderful Jacuzzi and swim, followed by a bite to eat and a very brief attempt at sleep. Up for breakfast at 4.20am and off to the foot of Ben Nevis and walking by 5am. No-one else to be seen.

After two hours the legs were tiring but we were reaching the top where it was -14 C. Stupidly I removed my gloves to get the camera out and immediately felt the full force of the icy cold. Hand warmers are a godsend !!! The brief hail storm was no picnic either.

On the journey down Mary was skipping lightly and I was starting to feel the burn in the knees. The descent was painful but a relief to finally reach the bottom.

On to the Lake District – a journey of 5 hours – to Scafell Pike. A near vertical ascent. The others in the team strode up as I slowed more and more; finally reaching the peak after two hours. Even more slowly down with the knees creaking – you simply can’t stop once you’ve started.

Jim Lythgoe, the challenge driver, had the kettle on when we reached the bottom – a welcome sight.

Back in the car for another five hours – reaching Snowdonia by 1.30am. Pitch dark. The team woke from their intermittent snoozing and dressed ready for the longest walk of the three.  I gave in and decided that I’d like to be able to continue playing squash until I’m 70 so saving my knees at this point was important to me. I bedded down for the night in the van.  Four hours later I was woken by Jon stating that the weather and the night darkness was horrendous and the walk had been successful but really uncomfortable.

We’d been looking forward to a cooked breakfast but as the team had completed Snowdon in record time, no cafés were open for another two hours. So we just started the drive home.

The three peaks, 24 hour challenge, is a really hard experience and for the team who completed all three in 24 hours and 28 minutes, this was a remarkable achievement. All of us have been walking a little bit awkwardly for the last few days, with the pain of stiff calves and thighs.

For team member, Nigel Pattison, this was the fourth challenge in four weeks, which started with the London Marathon, included a Coast-to-Coast bike ride and a 160 mile ride up and down the mountains of the Lake District. All this to raise a total in excess of £4,000 for Child Bereavement UK.

If anyone knows Nigel Pattison, Sue Martin-Downhill, Debbie Gray, Mary Hill, Ellen Gipp, Andrew Stansfield or John Maitland, and would like to donate to this cause please go to www.justgiving.com/nigel-pattison.