Britain’s three highest peaks will be just stepping stones on an epic journey being made in 2009 by two Newcastle BT men.

Rob Scragg and John da Mina of the OneDesk Convergence team will be tackling Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon in 48 hours – but the trek is just part of a fundraising programme that will eventually lead them to the summit of Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro.

Rob and John plan to raise £10,000 for BT and UNICEF’s Inspiring Young Minds programme.

BT is donating £500,000 a year to the programme for projects to help disadvantaged youngsters in South Africa, Brazil and China. GS has also set an employee fundraising target of £140,000 this year, which will help fund projects which use sports to encourage young people in Brazil to stay in school.

Rob and John will tackle the three peaks, the Great North Swim - two miles in Lake Windermere – a coast-to-coast bike ride of 140 miles and the Great North Bike Ride, 54.5 miles. The OneDesk team in Newcastle and Bristol is helping with fundraising activities including bake sales and raffles.

Rob said: “We know it’s not going to be easy, but we’ll be fundraising all the way – and we’re hoping to encourage up to ten BT people and friends to come on each of the UK challenges with us.

“Kilimanjaro will be amazing – it’s 35 degrees at the bottom but permanently snow-capped at the top, and we’ve never tackled anything like it.”

Please help us achieve our target and help make a real difference to the lives of disadvantaged children by making a donation.

We have some way to go yet so any donations would be greatly received and your support much appreciated!

25/26th April - C2C - Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge

On 25/26th April 2009 we took on the North East Coast to Coast Cycle route - 140 miles from Whitehaven to Tynemouth over a gruelling course which led us through parts of the Lake District and over the North Pennines. A big thank you to all the people, friends, family and work colleagues who signed up for the ride and completed it in style! Here is a list of the poeple involved , i'm pleased to say that everyone completed the route over 2 days! A massive thank you to everyone involved you helped us raise over £2000!

Rob Scragg, John da Mina, Vin Mernin, John Martin, Doug Martin, Drew Henderson, David Wilkinson, Ian Newton, Andy Ledson,
Lewis Lyell, Ed Lindsay, Sharif Moneeb, Sarah da Mina, Andy Mernin, Chris Palmer, Stuart Young, Alex Kinsey, Graham Todd.

17/18th July - National 3 Peaks Challenge

On Friday 17th July we took on the National 3 Peaks Challenge, climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon within 24 hours.

At a total distance of 27.5 miles and total ascent of 9800ft it was a major challenge when you think of not only the distance and ascent involved but the sheer endurance factor of doing it over 24 hours without proper sleep. I'm pleased to say that everyone who took part made it in 24 hours thanks to our dedicated drivers and chef's Rob Watts and Drew Henderson who got us from one mountain to the next and back home safely clocking up over 1000 miles in the process and managed to get the stoves working to feed 6 hungry lads.

Well done to Chris Palmer, Andrew Mernin, Sharif Moneeb, Dan Garnys and McKinley White. Great effort lads and very impressed with the sprint finish from Sharif, McKinley and Andy, whilst I hobbled down the slope!

20th September - North East Bike Ride

Get on your bike and join us on the North East Bike Ride in aid of unicef.

The route is 56 miles around North Tyneside and Northumberland and we need as many people as possible to join us for this fun event raising funds for the Inspiring Young Minds Program.

It's not a race and you don't need to be a regular cyclist. We are aiming for a fun day out so feel free to invite as many of your friends/family and work colleagues as possible - the more the merrier!

3rd October - Kilimanjaro!

We made it!

Please contact Rob, John or Chris for further info or register on our website at

Please visit http://www.alongwayup.co.uk/ for more information

A big thankyou to those who have sponsored us so far! Please keep the money coming in though!