3 Peaks Challenge - Charity Fundraiser for Maggie's Centres

Many of you already knew I was doing this, and many have already donated to our cause. On Saturday 16th September 2017, we set out to tackle the Yorkshire 3 Peaks in 1 day with a group of 24 colleagues.

39 KM / 24 Miles - 1,582 m / 5,190 feet elevation - 3 Peaks: Whernside, Ingleborough, Pen-y-Ghent

What an amazing experience! What an epic adventure.

First of all I would like to thank our 3 guides for organising this walk and leading us through this beautiful landscape.

Started fresh at 7 AM in the morning to peak 1, Whernside. We walked through the clouds at the peak but it then cleared and we had our first mind blowing views of the peak district.

Coming down from peak 1 and going up to peak 2, still feeling fresh and full of energy. "If that was one, then three is going to be easy!", is what I naively still thought.

The ascent to Ingleborough, peak 2, was a very steep one. At the top still full of energy and confidence. Again beautiful views of both the path we'd already walked and the path still to come. Time for a little stretch with some yoga at the top.

On the way down, the first challenges started. A sharp pain in my left knee on the first steps down. Nothing yet that would stop me though, but for sure not just a walk in the park anymore.

The views on the walk down were stunning though. What a landscape!

With a fresh coffee waiting at the bottom of the hill, I still felt invincible. Bring it on.

"OK, OK knee, I will take some ibuprofen just for you, climbing up to Pen-y-Ghent"

After the rains started approaching Peak 3, the challenge was on. With some full-on mountaineering on the final rocks to the peak, there was a real sense of achievement. You've made it to the top of the last peak, in the back of your mind there's still the walk back, but 'ey, you think the hardest part is over.

It takes a while for the second hit of pain killers to kick in though, which unfortunately was after the steepest bits down. This is where the pain really started.

You think you've done the 3 peaks, but you haven't done the 3 peaks until you've decided to walk back to the lodge through the wilderness, where no paths exist, except for the one you've just left behind.

This is the teeth gritting part even after 8 ibuprofen (sorry liver). It has to be mind over matter. Tensing every muscle to keep my leg together through dusk hill after hill. Just before nightfall we see our lodge and in the last 100 yards I drag my left leg across the field. I finish the last 20 yards with Joe supporting me through the yard to the house.

I sit down in the wet room, my body relaxes and I realise I am home. Before I take off my gear, I lean back against the wall for a few minutes and feel the best feeling in the world I've ever had come over me.

To anyone who every has completed a 3 peak challenge, I salute you. To anyone who wants to have an amazing experience, I can recommend it.

This challenge was set by my colleague Pete Wilson, who wanted to raise money and awareness for Maggie's Centers which is a cause close to his heart. This charity provides free practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer and their family and friends, following the ideas about cancer care originally laid out by Maggie Keswick Jencks.

Built in the grounds of NHS cancer hospitals, Maggie’s Centres are places with professional staff on hand to offer the support people need.

To help us raise funds please visit any of our walkers JustGiving pages under our group.

We all gave it our everything that day. Please donate if you can spare, no matter how small the amount or share this story.

View from Ingleborough with Whernside to the left and Pen-y-Ghent to the right.