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My story

 
Last weekend, Nick and I with 8 friends embarked on the 3 Peaks challenge – that is walking from the base of Ben Nevis to the top of Snowdon via Scafell Pike within 24 hours.

We set out from a very grey, depressing Fort William at 3pm on Friday and started our first climb.  The sun was out and we felt warm for the only time in the 24 hours to come.  By the time we reached the summit – there was snow on the ground and thick mist and it was freezing cold – thankfully we had been warned and so were well prepared with hats and gloves.  Ollie's high viz trousers weren't easy to walk in but were like a security blanket as I felt sure that any rescue team would be able to find me! Going down was more difficult than the ascent and the shallow steps finished Nick off. Despite having had a cortisone injection in his ankle, his leg swelled up and so he generously decided to retire rather than slow us all down. (5 ½ hours)

In our absence, our fantastic support crew had loaded the minibus with food and drink.  And so after a quick change of clothes and a hastily eaten fish and chips we set off for the Lake District. Paddy and Amanda drove through the night to Wasdale which was our starting point for Scafell Pike. Nick had made the right decision - a kip in the van was much more attractive than a steep walk in the dark and driving rain. As a new day dawned, the weather didn’t improve but the path was well trodden and there were people and cairns to follow. There was no view from the top – just thick cloud, driving rain and cold, miserable people!  Dry clothes, the sight of smoke and smell of barbequed sausages for breakfast were so welcome after 4 ¼ hours of discomfort.

The hours spent driving between the mountains made one realise how big the UK is and how grateful we were not to be driving ourselves.

The gentle start of the Miner’s track up Snowdon led us to falsely believe that this would be an easy mountain to conquer.  How wrong!  After a few miles walking up a gradual incline it joins the higher Pig Track and the final section is a steep climb.  Progress was hampered by the crowds of people coming down, many who had obviously reached the top by train and who were totally unprepared for the terrain or changing weather conditions. Once again, we could hardly stand on the summit as the wind blew and the train chugged up the hill out of the cloud. 2 hours 40mins to the top.

We had achieved our goal and climbed 3 Peaks within 24 hours despite bad weather and our driving speed limited to 65mph.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. I hope that you will sponsor me and support the work that Canine Partners do.  On Monday I hobbled into a partners day presentation ceremony that they were holding for some of their recent partnerships.  It was a privilege to see and hear how the lives of some disabled people had been improved and enriched by their canine partners.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.

well done you! annie x Donation by ANNIE YOUNGMAN 19/10/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Donation by Catharine Kesley 06/10/09  

£25.00

Well done! Great achievement. Donation by Sarah and Charlie Peacock 07/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

A little late ...... got there in the end ! Donation by Alex and Jo Mackie 19/08/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Well done Catharine! Donation by Mariele 03/08/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by Anonymous 01/08/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

What a fantastic achievement, well done! Donation by Alex Berthon 31/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done Catharine. What an achievement. Best wishes, Karen Miles & family Donation by Karen Miles 28/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by Anonymous 26/07/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Well done team Kesley - what an amazing achievement - great admiration all round! xx Donation by Karen Carpmael 22/07/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Well done! Dominica x Donation by Dominica Yang 21/07/09  

£30.00

Well done to you!!Only you could go ahead havingnhad your arm in plaster for six weeks!!XX Donation by Pol and Tom 20/07/09  

£30.00

Well done Donation by Deirdre Donegan 15/07/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Congratulations, great effort ! Robert Donation by Robert Trindle 08/07/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Donation by Anonymous 07/07/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Fantastic effort. Well done. Roger and Roz Donation by rosamund kipling 02/07/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Congratulations-the Elvidges Donation by Rusty Elvidge 02/07/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Well done Looby Loo - great effort all round. Hope Nick's leg gets better soon. Donation by Mark Olszowski 01/07/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Well done, Catharine. Donation by Susie & Mark Drummond Brady 01/07/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

WOW! Well done you Catharine! Sorry about Nick's ankle. xxJane and Mike. Donation by Jane Hodgson 01/07/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Donation by Anonymous 29/06/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Donation by Anonymous 29/06/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

I'm exhausted even reading about it !!! Good for you ! Cx Donation by Clare Mathias 29/06/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

great achievement and glad you made it Donation by jonathan heilbron 29/06/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Catharine - well done to all of you - I am seriously impressed that you did it. With our best wishes - The Aitchisons Donation by Jeremy Aitchison 29/06/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Catharine - well done from all the Boadles! Donation by Julia Boadle 29/06/09  

£50.00

Fabulous achievement and a great cause. Lots of love, Simon, Melanie, Charlie, Rosanna and Madeleine Donation by Melanie Shaw 28/06/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Congratulations - well done you. Lots of love Michael, Catherine, Tom and Polly x Donation by Catherine Ewart Smith 28/06/09  

£10.00

Fantastic Catharine - what a great cause and a great feeling I am sure to have been successful in such a challenge. Kim X Donation by Kim Shaw 27/06/09  

£25.00

Well done. Full of admiration. Donation by Elspeth Murphy 26/06/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £1,190.00
  Offline donations: £190.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £287.69

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