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On September 23rd a team from E Shift, Loughborough Police Station, Leicestershire Constabulary is undertaking the Three Peaks Challenge. They will attempt to climb the three highest peaks in Britain; Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in Wales. All sponsorship will go towards Nottingham Neonatal Trust where Matt and Helen Foulger's daughter, Isla, was so well cared for during her short life.  Isla spent 5 weeks on the unit where the staff made both Matt and Helen feel like parents despite the problems with Isla's heart. Money raised for the Neonatal Trust will be used to purchase much needed medical equipment. The Trust is a voluntary organisation and many of the doctors and nurses work out of hours to support it. Both Matt and Helen feel fortunate for the time they were able to spend with Isla, which would not have been possible without the facilities and the dedicated staff at the Neonatal Unit.

THE TEAM

What with a few changes to the final contenders to take part in the challenge the Team is now set:

Sgt Jamie Osborne, PC Matt Foulger, PC Ian Horsfall, PC Charlie Wright, PC Tony La Planche, PC Jason Stowell, PC Paul Chubbock, PC Jemma Sharman

A final meeting was held on 19/9/08 to discuss logistics etc and we are now set for the off. We finish our night shift at 7am on 23rd Sept and then it is straight into the minibus and off to Scotland.  Fortunately Jamie and Charlie are not working the night shift so they get to do the driving while the rest of us catch up on some much needed sleep.

Dependant on traffic and weather we then intend to commence our ascent of Ben Nevis at about 4pm.

Thanks to:

ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SPONSORED US EITHER ONLINE OR VIA OUR FORMS

GOOUTDOORS, Loughborough for their support/sponsorship

Sgt Dave Ascough for compiling and providing the route maps/GPS

3 Peaks Completed:

First of all a Big Thank You to all who supported and sponsored us.  Sorry for the delay in the update but after the challenge it was sadly straight back to work for us all!  Well we are pleased to say that we all returned home safely and the eventual time of completion was just under 28 hours.  Our story in brief:

Tuesday 23/9/08 we finished night shift at 7am and sat down for a bowl of porridge made by Matt, well he called it porridge but we understand the leftovers are being used as foundations for the M1 widening programme.

We then set off in the minibus, KINDLY DONATED BY THE GREAT BRITAIN CANOE RACING TEAM, driven by Charlie who I would like to add never failed us once on the whole trip, just loads of times instead!

The journey was a long one and matters were not helped as Ian had treated himself to egg sandwiches during his shift and thus the bus windows spent a lot of time open.  Even worse Matt and LaLa (Tony) decided to join in with their own brand of fragrance.

On arrival in Scotland (and the fresh air) it was time to kit up and get moving.  Now bear in mind some of the participants had never been up a mountain before and this was all new to them and their challenge was just giving it a go.  15 minutes later with help from the team Jemma was fully strapped up with her rucksack etc before she makes her big announcement I NEED THE LADIES!!!  Up strapped and de-kitted she strolled off before returning to be re-kitted. AT LAST they are off 1645hrs, 23/9/08, little did we know what lay ahead.

Soon the team split with Matt, Jamie, Paul & Ian making haste up Ben Nevis leaving Jason, LaLa & Jem to make a steady pace. Fortunately we had 3 works radios to hand to keep in touch and with the wonders of modern technology we were even able to talk to colleagues back in Leicestershire and their words of encouragement during the challenge were a welcome boost.  With the light fading and the clouds low Matt, Jamie, Paul & Ian reached the summit, arriving  hot and sweaty yet racing to put on extra layers due to the freezing temperatures encountered on the summit.  By this point Matt had been nicknamed Mountain Goat.  Realising it was too cold to wait on top for the others Matt, Jamie, Paul & Ian began to descend and 10 minutes down from the summit bumped into Jason.  Mountain Goat Matt made the decision to accompany Jason to the Summit.  30 minutes from the summit LaLa & Jem were located.  LaLa expressed his wish to continue to the summit and continued to ascend.  Jem saw sense and called it a day.  By now it was dark and head torches in use. Eventually 6 of the 7 walkers made it back to base camp to enjoy a lovely Stew and Pasta (cooked the day before by Charlie’s wife, Thanks Michelle).  LaLa had reached the summit and was descending down the well marked path.  Enjoying the pitch black mountain all to himself he decided to have a bit of a venture off the well marked path and called up on the radio to announce he was at a dead end with just a loch in front of him.  Ok he did not venture off through enjoyment, HE GOT LOST!!!  After a bit of back tracking and regular welfare checks over the air by Charlie and a few hours extra LaLa returned safely.  Food ate, van packed and off to Wasdale Head andScafell Pike.  For reasons unknown to the team Radio Charlie was tired so Matt drove for the first hour and half.

The team tried to fall sleep to the rumble of the tyres on the road yet strangely enough found themselves waking at various service stations so Charlie the driver could sneak a cheeky coffee break.  With more time lost due to a road closure (well that’s what Charlie says) we arrived at Wasdale Head.  Jem declines the climb and continues to sleep, LaLa still traumatised/exhausted by his round the world walk ofBen Nevis decides to sit this one out.  Matt, Jamie, Paul, Ian and Jason waste no time in setting off.  The unrelenting ascent of Scafell takes its toll.  Matt & Ian push on with Jamie & Paul not far behind and Jason giving it all he had got to continue.  Matt and Ian then advise Jason over the radio that it gets harder at the scree slopes and Jason makes the sensible decision to call it a day.  Summit of Scafell Pike is reached by Matt, Paul, Jamie & Ian. A quick intake of the scenery and then back down in quick time to base to enjoy a culinary delight this time of chilli and pasta.  Base reached with 3 ½ hrs so some time clawed back.  Food ate, van packed and off toSnowdon.  For reasons unknown to the team Radio Charlie was still tired so Matt drove for the first hour and half.

A few hours later and the odd service station visited Pen y Pass,Snowdon was reached.  Jem opted out and continued to get some more sleep.  3 pairs then set out,  Matt & Ian taking the Pyg Track, Jamie & Paul taking the Pyg track and Jason & LaLa taking the Miners track.  Matt & Ian set off as if it was a race, Jamie and Paul made good progress and Jason and LaLa enjoyed the scenery.  1hr 20 mins later Matt & Ian had reached Snowdon Summit, photo’s taken and a quick food intake they ran back down meeting Jamie and Paul 30 minutes from the summit taking great delight at looking back up at the summit and saying to Jamie & Paul “THAT LOOKS HIGH UP ENJOY YOUR CLIMB GUYS!!”  Jamie & Paul grimaced and set off at a running pace towards the summit, a run that lasted at least 5 seconds.  Matt & Ian continued to make haste and met LaLa and Jason at the base of the steps on the miners track.  LaLa & Jason had made it a third of the way up the steps before deciding sensibly to return to the minibus.  Matt and Ian wished them well realising they had ½ hour left if they were to complete in 2 ½ hrs.  Rucksacks tightened Matt and Ian made haste back to the bus, which was then interrupted in tears of laughter for Matt as Ian failed to clear a protruding rock in the path and took a tumble.  Following a welfare check by Matt between the laughter asking “Are you OK?” Ian replied in pain “NO”.  Still the clock was ticking and Matt and Ian resumed the running pace reaching the bus in 2 ½ hrs.  It was dark once again and head torches were in use.  Jason & LaLa returned then we all waited patiently for the glare from Jamie & Paul’s head torches.  As the glare of 2 head torches appeared the team cheered and applauded as they watched the 2 head torches approach the car park.  Confusion then set in as the 2 head torches veered away from the bus to a car in the car park and we immediately learned we were cheering on 2 strangers, still they did well and were invited to join us for a quick well earned beer from the coolbox.  A short time later 2 more head torches appeared and Jamie & Paul arrived.  The corks of 2 bottles of bubbly were popped and the team along with 2 new found friends enjoyed a toast to what can only be described as a fantastic challenge enjoyed by all and with bonus of knowing that a lot of money had been raised for a worthy cause.

Thank you to everyone who made it possible and for all your support and sponsorship.

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