Dads of seriously ill children take on an epic challenge to raise vital funds for and awareness of Tŷ Hafan, the hospice for children in Wales
The Tŷ Hafan Dads’ Group share a special, bittersweet bond that most people will never have – they’re all part of a family with children who are unlikely to live until adulthood. Every dad has his own mountain to climb and the group members are all at different stages of their journey, but the support provided to them by Tŷ Hafan will continue for as long as it’s needed.
So, on 1 July 2021 (postponed from 2 July 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak), a group of intrepid adventurers made up of members of Tŷ Hafan’s Dads’ Group will take on their latest epic challenge, #10nTaff.
They will climb ten Welsh mountains, then cycle the entire 52 mile length of the Taff Trail from Brecon to Cardiff, all in under 55 hours.
Setting a high bar
Members of the Dads’ Group are no strangers to stepping out of their comfort zone in an effort to support Tŷ Hafan. The must-have Christmas gift of 2016 was the #DadsBareAll calendar featuring those brave enough posing naked on Sully Beach. They followed that up with #5in55 by climbing five of the highest mountains in the UK in 52 hours, raising over £40,000, and their achievement was recognised by Just Giving who awarded them the 2018 Team Fundraiser of the Year.
Dads’ mountainous efforts rewarded with Just Giving awardDads Bare All for Tŷ Hafan
The Tŷ Hafan Dads’ Group
Tŷ Hafan provides comfort, care and support to children with life-limiting conditions and their families. The Dads Group has been a fantastic addition to the services that Tŷ Hafan provides as it gives the male side of the family an opportunity to form bonds, seek advice and share experiences with those in a similar situation. Their recent challenges take this a step further as the sense of camaraderie can forge stronger bonds, while helping the dads give something back to the charity, so that it can continue to provide their essential services to the families of Wales who need them.
About #10nTaff
Chris Thomas, Brad Watson, and Paul Fears, all members of the #5in55 team, wanted to raise the stakes further for this next challenge and make it tougher than anything they’d done before. They wanted it to cover the whole of Wales to reflect the extent of the support provided by Tŷ Hafan. The result is #10nTaff, a challenge that will test them to their limits.
The preliminary schedule for the #10nTaff is brutal. After driving up to North Wales on Wednesday 1 July, the team prepare themselves for three days of almost non-stop physical exertion.
On 1 July (day one), the team intend to set off at dawn to climb the five highest mountains in Wales. They are:
Carnedd Llewelyn (Carneddau Range): Elevation – 1064m (3rd highest in Wales)Carnedd Dafydd (Carneddau Range): Elevation – 1044m (4th highest in Wales)Glyder Fawr (Glyderau Range): Elevation – 1001m (5th highest in Wales)Garnedd Ugain (Snowdon Massif): Elevation – 1065m (2nd highest in Wales)Snowdon (Snowdon Massif): Elevation – 1085m (Highest in Wales)
Late in the evening of day one, the team is driven down to the Black Mountains in West Wales. After a few hours rest, at dawn on 2 July (day two) they begin their assault on the five highest mountains in the Brecon Beacons. These are:
Fan Brydeiniog (Black Mountains): Elevation – 802mFan Hir (Black Mountains): Elevation – 761mWaun Rydd (Central Brecon Beacons): Elevation – 769mPen-y-Fan (Central Brecon Beacons): Elevation – 886mCribyn (Central Brecon Beacons): Elevation – 795m
After completing the second stage of the challenge, the team plan to rest in Brecon overnight on day two before the final part of the challenge. At dawn on 3 July (day three), the team will start the seven-hour, 52-mile cycle ride from Brecon to Cardiff Bay along the Taff Trail.
