Three Peaks Challenge Update

Read about how our Senior Property Consultant - Greg Adams and a group of 7 other climbers got on when they attempted the National Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds for their friend Darren Bovis, who was paralysed in a freak accident back in 2020.

Along with a group of friends, our David Andrew colleague Greg Adams, attempted the Three Peaks Challenge last week! Here in his own words, is an account of the challenging fund-raising climb: -

“On Monday 3^rd October I was picked up by minibus at 6.30 am and joined seven other over-50-year-olds for the start of the Three Peaks Challenge. The first phase was a 12-hour journey to Fort William where we stayed overnight before the challenge began on the morning of Tuesday 4^th October.

At 5 am we met our mountain guide at the base of Ben Nevis in the pouring rain and with winds blowing at more than 50 mph. The guide, who had completed 520 ascents of Ben Nevis, described the weather as “about as bad as it gets”. This was not how I’d imagined the start would be, back when I agreed to participate in January! We were wet before we set-off and saturated by the time we reached the summit - 4 hours later! One of our group, who had been suffering with a heavy cold and fever, was forced to turn back after 30 minutes to avoid jeopardising the climb for the rest of us, whilst two others, had to abandon the climb after 3 hours leaving the five remaining climbers to push on. The top of Ben Nevis was extremely cold and windy, so it felt like an extraordinary achievement to have made it! The descent took another two-and-a half hours before we changed into dry clothes, had a bite to eat and headed off for mountain number two, Scafel Pike, in the Lake District.

By the time we reached Scafel Pike about 6 hours later, my left hip and thigh muscle had started to seize up and I was in two minds about attempting the climb. Not wanting to hinder the other climbers, I decided to stay behind in the minibus. As luck would have it, the wind and rain had followed us from Scotland, and then six climbers and a new guide set off in the dark at about 8pm to start the climb. Unfortunately, one of the group was struggling again and with worsening weather, the decision was made to abandon the climb about 1 hour before the summit. We then returned to the minibus for a quick meal and another change of clothes before setting off for Wales.

The minibus arrived at the base of Mount Snowdon at around 5am with no easing in the wind and rain. The pain in my left hip and thigh had been joined by tight calf muscles in both legs, so I did the sensible thing and stayed on the bus with two of the other climbers who had also decided not to attempt the ascent. Five climbers set off at about 6 am with the new guide and reached the summit of Snowdon around 3 hours later. The jubilant group took another 2 hours to descend, and after celebratory cups of tea and coffee, we headed for home.

With only two of the three mountains climbed, we can’t claim to have fully succeeded with the challenge but, given the adverse weather conditions and the age of those taking part, we were still pleased with our overall performance. Whilst it would have been great to climb all three peaks in 24 hours, our primary objective was to attempt to fund-raise £20,000 for our friend Darren, who is paralysed from the waist down, following a spinal injury 3 years ago. Our Just Giving page currently stands at over £25,000 with more donations coming in each day. From this perspective, our challenge has been an undeniable success.

Along with my fellow climbers, we met up with Darren at the weekend to celebrate our achievement and to share with him our stories of bad weather and bravado! I’m so grateful and proud to have been a part of this fund-raising event. We all hope the ReWalk machine that allows him to walk using an Exoskeleton suit, will help make Darren’s life easier to manage. He’s an amazing man who is facing up to his disability with incredible courage and bravery.

If anyone is thinking of attempting the Three Peaks Challenge, my best advice would be to do it in June or July rather than October!

Many thanks to everyone who donated. On behalf of Darren, myself and my fellow climbers, we are all extremely grateful for your generosity.” Greg Adams.

To read about Darren’s life-changing story and to make a donation, please search ‘One of our Own Three Peaks’ on the JustGiving website.