The Midas Three Peak Challenge 24th September 2008 For Macmillan Cancer Support We DID it!!! - Triumphant and Exhausted! Well, it was never going to be easy but we did it!!................................ If it wasn’t the travel sickness from the 21 hours in a cramped mini bus that nearly finished us off, the climb up Scafell Pike through the night was never going to be a pleasant experience while the blisters on Ben Nevis demanded serious painkillers. However, we all dug deep and the hours of training and preparation clearly paid off as we crossed the finish line at the base of Snowdon in 23 hours and 5 minutes. Not only had we completed the challenge in one piece (just about) but we had also wiped nearly an hour out of our target time. We started with Ben Nevis on the afternoon of the 24th at 2pm, all itching to just get going and we were blessed with sunny skies and dry weather – something which was not expected but greatly welcomed for the first ascent. This climb was to be the longest and hardest at nearly 10 miles long but we all completed it within the target time of 5.5 hrs with still a small amount of daylight left. Next was the very bumpy and dark ride down to Scafell Pike in the Lake District which was a painful 6 hour drive through the night, I think Rob’s eyes (our specialist driver) must have been on stalks by the time we arrived at the base of Scafell. Starting a tough climb at 1.30am in the morning is not a normal task for anybody but again the weather held out and we got to the summit with clear skies and an umbrella of stars! As we drove down to Snowdon with the sun rising we knew we had a fighting chance of completing within the set timescales and that fuelled the very empty tanks and weary legs with just about enough life to make the final climb. Towards the top, every step was a mountain to climb but the descent down the miners track was direct and much easier on the knees then the other two mountains. As we rounded the corner we saw the support team and knew we were meters away from completing what will probably be one of the biggest challenges we will ever contemplate. A mixture of pure relief and elation could be felt by all as we crossed through the gate into Pen-Y-Pass carpark at 13.05 on the Thursday afternoon! We have all been in training for as long as we can remember and many people have given us advice, support and guidance as to the best way to tackle the Three Peaks. To be honest, it has taken a monumental amount of team work, courage and determination to achieve our goal and we want to take this opportunity to say thanks to everyone who has helped in their own way – we could not have done it without you. Apart from the desire to succeed, the aim of the challenge was to raise much needed funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and we are pleased to announce that we have managed to raise in excess of £8700.00 which really will help make a difference to the lives of people who have been blighted with cancer. It means a great deal to us and also to the team at Macmillan Cancer Support. Team members Alan Rance Rachel Collier Melvyn Middleton Clinton Sparkhall Stephen Read Darren Franklin Support Team Rob Doughty Clare Brooks