The Three Peaks Challenge is not to be taken lightly. Tackling Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands, Snowdon in North Wales and Scafell Pike in the Lake District, all inside 24 hours, takes steel, determination and not a little planning and coordination.
With the prospect of raising vital funds for Heart Research UK in front of them, 13 employees from the Birmingham based multidisciplinary engineering firm, adi Group, were undaunted. And, in under 23 hours, one less than the target 24, all 13 completed the feat on Saturday 23rd June and raised over £8,000 for Heart Research UK in process.
An intrepid group of Ritchie Webb, David Barnes, Lee Price, Brian Imrie, Simon Cleaver, Duncan Honeysett, Shaun Johnson, Stuart Anderson, Steve Emery, Jordan McMillan, Sam Scott, Kyle Sterry and Charles Baker, scaled all three peaks and inspired their colleagues Claire Rowley, Suzanne Burton, Kieren Kirwan and Dave Waldron to join them for the Snowdon leg of the climb.
The marathon undertaking saw the adi team walk a total of 26 miles (42km) and climb 3,000 metres (9,800 feet) but, with approximately 462 miles between the three mountains, the feat would have been almost impossible without 10 hours of driving assistance from Gary Bailey, Kyle Sterry, Charles Baker, Dan Walker, Pete Watson and Roy Downing, who should all take great credit for their commitment to the team fulfilling their objective.
After the team completed their mammoth task, a breathless Lee Price was awestruck.
"We have some breathtaking landscape throughout the UK and the challenge gave us the opportunity to see it from the highest points. Nothing can prepare you for the Three Peaks. It’s an amazing experience and one I never thought I could complete. But the culture of adi is one of teams, support and encouragement, something the climbers on this challenge all needed at some point. Without that familiar voice saying ‘it’s not far now’, we would have certainly not made such an impressive time.”
So impressed were adi Group senior management that they pledged to double the final amount raised from the firm’s own pocket, with Heart Research UK, long standing beneficiaries of adi Group’s charity work, now set to enjoy a boost of over £8,000 that can be used to help hearts up and down the UK.
Ritchie Webb, Managing Director of adi’s Automotive Service division and the organiser of the event, said,
“This was a real team effort. From the climbers to the support drivers, who drove 450 miles in 10 hours, to our supporters and those who donated, thank you to everyone who helped us complete this mountainous challenge. adi Group is always incredibly proud to raise money for Heart Research UK.”
Barbara Harpham, Chief Executive at Heart Research UK, said of the achievement,
"adi Group has been brilliant, raising so much money for us over the years through football tournaments and marathons. This challenge really is the pinnacle, though! Well done to everyone.”
Heart Research UK is a fantastic cause doing great work in an important area that touches so many of our lives. In support of that work, the adi team set up a JustGiving page and donations, large or small are still being gratefully received. To donate just visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/adi-group-three-peaks-challenge.
To watch a short video of adi’s Three Peaks endeavours, including an ascent of Snowdon in darkness, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-dKXzkDREA&feature=youtu.be.