3 peaks, 3 charities, 25+ miles hiking, 450+ miles cycling...

On the 27th May 2023 I will start a 7 day challenge that will see me hike the national 3 peaks; Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon. Not only that but I will also be cycling between each of the peaks with some days seeing me cycle 100+ miles as I travel between them.

This challenge has significant personal meaning to me, it is something I have had in the back of my mind for the best part of 3 years and I've always talked myself out of it and told myself I couldn’t do it. In the last 6 months with a change in environment and the recent completion of my accounting qualification I’ve come to realise that’s it now or never and this is my best shot at completing it.

As well as this I will also be raising money for 3 charities (one for each peak) that are equally personal to me. The first of those is the Epilepsy Society, my sister, Katie, was diagnosed with Epilepsy in 2015 and has since seen it completely change her life. From being told she couldn’t have the career she wanted for herself since she was young to having multiple seizures a day that can be really debilitating. Since then she has learned to live with Epilepsy and has been a huge inspiration to me in perseverance. The Epilepsy Society have helped Katie providing support and care for her as well as conducting would-leading research with the aim of giving hope to those suffering with Epilepsy that they can have a life without seizures.

The second charity is the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT), my fiancé Amy, who I am lucky enough to be marrying in June 2024, works as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Teenage and Young Adult Oncology. Ever since graduating she has been working with children and young people with cancer and I have the utmost admiration for her as it’s something I could never do. She provides care and support to young people diagnosed with cancer, often being a shining light in what can be a very dark time during these individuals lives. Every day 7 young people are diagnosed with Cancer and have their world flipped on its head, the TCT are the only UK charity dedicated to providing specialised nursing care ‘so no young person faces cancer alone’.

The third charity I will be raising money for is Space North East. Probably the most personal to me Space is a local Men’s mental health CIC that offers a safe space for men struggling with their mental health to come together and share their experiences with others who have gone through similar hardships. I have been on my own journey with my mental health going through struggles with self-belief and low confidence to having a panic attack in the run up to one of my accountancy exams and at times struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I've always considered myself fortunate to have a great support network around me to help me through dark times, but there are many men that don’t have those networks and can find themselves feeling like they have nowhere to turn. I spoke with James who setup Space and he is on a mission to change perceptions and show Men they do have somewhere to turn to in the North East and I couldn’t think of greater cause for me personally to raise money for.

If you’re still here after reading all of this, firstly thank you but secondly and more importantly, anything you have that you can donate to these causes would be hugely appreciated. 100% of the funds raised will be split equally between the three charities and could help make a real difference to someone’s life.