Fred Foundation

We made it back in one piece….well almost.

The challenge started well as we got to Ben Nevis, Scotland, on time at 5pm Saturday, but then it started to go downhill (pardon the pun) for some:

Casualty 1: Andrew Ryan – He made it up and down Ben Nevis despite apparently fracturing a bone in his foot (some say a minor blister), before having to retire thereafter to Mediterranean sandals and back seat.

Casualty 2: Steve Abraham – serial vomiting (up Ben Nevis, down Ben Nevis, by Loch Lomond, in Glasgow (outskirts and centre), on hard shoulder of motorway and final flourish in Whitehaven), meant Steve had to join Andrew Ryan in the back seat (by the open window). Cause unknown, although whiskey intake, Imodium obsession and associated dehydration thought by Sherlock Holmes fans to be at the root of the issue.

This left 3 walkers remaining and Neil ‘Wheels’ Wirasinha (a heady blend of Jensen Button and Gordon Ramsey….his late night burgers and early morning bacon butties are a treat) driving, in a valiant attempt to make up the lost injury hour. Wirasinha nearly hit a stag on the road at one stage but claimed it didn’t alarm him as he had his eyes shut at the time

4.30 am saw us start peak number 2, Scafell Pike in England, with the perfect preparation of over 5 hours stuck in a car to get us in the mood. Despite Carlos and myself now carrying knee injuries to add to the pleasure, we, along with the third walker, Richard, somehow contrived to get up and down the peak in around 4 hours. Unfortunately this meant we had a fighting chance of completing the challenge in 24 hours and so had no choice but to carry on to peak 3, Snowden in Wales

Another lovely car ride and we arrived in Wales with 3 hours and 50 minutes to make it up and down Snowden – just what the doctor ordered. Luckily Richard found a second wind and headed off like a steam train dragging Carlos and I in his slipstream. Eventually he left us behind and made it down with 25 minutes to spare. The question was could Carlos and I make it in time? We didn’t have a clue, as neither had a watch which didn’t help (although we did have a compass – which didn’t help either). Despite this we set off, hobbling like a couple of old men, and amidst a torrent of swearing, amazingly made it to the bottom after 23 hours and 56 minutes, with just 4 minutes to spare. Luckily, Carlos, after much deliberation, decided not to stop for a loo break at the top of Snowden….it could have all been so different.

So, all is well with the world and apparently the leg pains wear off after a week or so. With that in mind, we would like to thank you again for all your kind donations, and indeed remind any of you that plan to donate that you can still do so by going on to the Just Giving link attached. Also attached are a few photos from the day.