Ridgespear tackles Three Peaks for charity

An intrepid team of employees from Ridgespear has successfully overcome the Three Peaks challenge in testing conditions, raising £3149 for The Brain Tumour Charity in the process.

The underfloor heating and renewable technologies specialist – whose trade names include Omnie, Circoflo and Tailored Heat Supplies – provided the transport for the July attempt, enabling the eight staff members to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowden, in just over 32 hours.

Their challenge began at 07.23, on a drizzly but warm summer’s morning at the foothills of Ben Nevis, where the team faced slippery rocks and took a few painful tumbles. With rain turning to sleet as they climbed, visibility reduced to practically nil before the cold and weary climbers reached the summit at 11.09am.

Conditions were little better for the descent though they met climbers on their way up wearing T-shirts and trainers! But they made it back to base after seven hours and a total distance of 14.1km, being met by Tailored Heat’s John Trenell and warming tomato soup, before taking the road to Scafell Pike.

Hitting rush hour traffic slowed their journey south, meaning they began the Scafell Pike ascent three hours behind schedule at 21:21pm … in the fading light. With headlamps donned, the weary but determined group concentrated on avoiding the lethal boulders as they struggled to find their way, eventually reaching their second summit at 00.18am in the cold and inky blackness.

Making it back to the minibus just over three hours later, tired and aching, it was then time for sleep during the six-hour drive to Snowden. Geared up, they then began their final ascent up what seemed, at first, to be a comfortably even path at 09:15am, while it was pleasantly warm. But as they continued up, the gradient gradually became more treacherous, while the weather worsened again – and in the distance they could see the route disappear into the gloom of low hanging clouds.

Finally, in the rain, cold and bone-chilling wind, the brave souls reached the summit at 12.25pm – finally completing the third descent by 15.30. You can be sure they were all glad to get back to the warm greetings from family, friends and colleagues. They may even have been tempted to switch on the underfloor heating for an hour or two.

To celebrate their challenge being achieved, donations to The Brain Tumour Charity can be made on their JustGiving page.