‘Twentyfoureight’ is a group of eight mums who are making a bolt for the hills – literally. We are aiming to raise as much money as we can for Diabetes UK by climbing the three highest peaks in England Scotland and Wales in just 24 hours, and we’d be sincerely grateful for any support you can give us.

Until now our biggest shared challenge has been finding a parking space outside Weston Green School, Thames Ditton, where our children are classmates. So the Three Peaks Challenge, which will see us scaling Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdon between 8.30am on 18 June and 8.30am on 19 June, will up the ante for all of us. It’s daunting, but the good cause that we’re supporting is giving us plenty of motivation.

What began as a fun way to raise money for an important cause has become much more poignant. The motivation behind the event was the serious illness of Yolanda Acuna Ocana, whose sister, Nicky Dixon, is a member of the Three Peaks team. Yolanda died on 29th April following months of agonizing treatment for the complications of diabetes, and now the Challenge is being undertaken in her memory.

Yolanda developed Type 1 diabetes at the age of 14. Suffering from the cumulative effects of years of medication, she was hospitalised for the last six months of her life as she awaited a kidney and pancreas transplant, narrowly avoiding having her foot amputated and suffering the agonizing effects of neuropathy (nerve damage). She was 39 when she died.

Nicky is also diabetic. She suffers from bleeding behind the retina and finds that prolonged exertion places great strain on her body, because she does not have the automatic supply of sugars that provide our energy. For her, the Three Peaks Challenge will be particularly challenging, both physically and emotionally.

Diabetes UK is the country’s biggest organisation focusing on this often misunderstood – and increasingly common – disease. It provides support for sufferers, funds research and campaigns to raise awareness and understanding of diabetes. 

So you can see why we are determined to do all we can to raise funds and awareness for Diabetes UK. We formally launched our fund-raising on 7 May, with a charity dinner at Weston Green School and raised a staggering £6,800. All donations, however small, will be greatly appreciated, and we all thank you for any support you are able to give.