RWE team takes on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge

What lengths would you go to for a colleague? Climb a mountain? How about three?

Following a colleague’s cancer diagnosis, a team of 14 RWE offshore technicians decided to do just that to raise money and awareness for a cancer charity.

Raising money for a worthy cause

The technicians came together to complete the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge because one of their colleagues–and friend–Jamie Wilks was undergoing therapy for Hodgkin Lymphoma–a rare form of cancer which develops in the lymphatic system.

Jamie has been undergoing chemotherapy and stem cell therapy at Castle Hill Hospital in Hull so the team decided to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust and in particular its unit based at the hospital.

“This is a cause extremely close to our hearts,” explains Declan Clarke, Offshore Technician. “We are hoping once the total amounts have been raised, we can go down to the cancer unit at the hospital with Jamie to hand the cheque over. “It’s our way of showing Jamie we’re all here for him and that we’re thinking of him currently.”

Preparing for the task

The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge involves taking on the Yorkshire Dales National Park peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough and completing them all within 12 hours. It’s a 24 mile trip which involves a gruelling 1,585m of ascent.

The offshore technicians are based at RWE’s Triton Knoll Wind Farm off the coast of Lincolnshire in the North Sea and preparing for such a tough challenge involved a bit of creative thinking.

The team came together to devise a fitness plan which included upping their gym usage while out on the Service Operation Vessel (SOV) and setting up rowing challenges in their down time.

Rising to the challenge in difficult conditions

As the big day got closer, the weather forecast was far from ideal meaning nerves were starting to creep in, as Declan admits. He says: “The night before, most of us were a bit worried whether we would be able to complete the challenge as there were a few severe weather warnings issued for the day of the challenge.”

Although it rained on and off over the course of the day itself, the major challenge was presented by the wind. As the team tackled Whernside and Ingleborough they were battered with snow storms and 50mph gusts.

It made for a tough day but Declan explains they got through it as a team and morale remained high throughout.

Waiting at the finish line was Jamie and his fiancée Lucy. “It was a massive boost for all of us involved,” says Declan. “It had been months since we saw him last and it was great to see him looking so well.”

The total so far raised is ￡5,520 via JustGiving and is still rising. To support the team and the fantastic cause they were raising money for, visit justgiving.com