The challenge involves climbing (in order) Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon, as well as cycling in between all 3 mountains. The challenge undertakes some 42 kilometres (26 miles) of ascent and descent on those mountains, and the self designed cycling route covers 501 miles. We begin in the early hours of Friday 24th June, completing the challenge 4.5 days later at lunchtime on Tuesday 28th June.
The Challenge will raise Funds for two charities, 'Headway' and 'The Alex Richardson Award' at the University of St Andrews. Each charity will receive a 50% split of donations. (Just to reiterate, none of our expenses will be paid from any funds donated.)
The Cause
Alex Richardson was Fred's cousin. He died on March 26th 2009 at the very young age of 21 after falling through a roof whilst at St Andrews University. The fall resulted in him sustaining fatal head injuries. This deeply tragic day changed the lives of his family and friends forever and he will never be forgotten.
The Charities
Headway is the UK's leading voluntary organisation dedicated to promote all aspects of brain injury and to provide support, information and to improve all aspects of life after brain injury.
The Alex Richardson award was set up in memory of Alex whose interest in Spanish speaking cultures was prominent. This award will help a student at St Andrews to continue his or her Spanish and undertake an imaginative project in a Spanish Speaking country, which will broaden their understaning of the culture.
Details
Starting at the base of Ben Nevis on Friday 24th June, the 4 of us will ascend the highest mountain in the British Isles (at 4,409 feet) before cycling 117 miles to our first night's base in Hunters Quay.
Day 2 sees a full day on the bike, with a distance of 130 Miles being covered down to Carlisle.
Day 3 starts with a 55 miles cycle to Scafell Pike, and having completed the 3,209 feet mountain we get back on our bikes for a further 40 miles to Grange-over-Sands.
Day 4 is likely to be mentally (and physically..) the hardest, with a 127 mile cycle all the way down to Corwen in Wales.
Day 5 will be (relatively) the easiest, with a 34 mile cycle before tackling the 3,560 foot mountain
Love it!
ReplyDeleteI'm knackered just reading that. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThis day is call'd the ride of the three peaks 'ride & cycle' challenge.
ReplyDeleteHe that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of the three peaks 'ride & cycle' challenge.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is the three peaks 'ride & cycle' challenge.'
Then we will strip our lycra shorts and show our scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on the three peaks 'ride & cycle' challenge.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But you'll remember, with advantages,
What feats you did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Fred Richardson, Quentin Baker, Mark Gibbs & Ben McKeown,
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And the three Peaks 'Run & Cycle' Challenge shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But you in it shall be remembered-
you few, you happy few, you band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his sweat with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That rode and ran with us upon the three Peaks 'Run & Cycle' Challenge.
Hi we are all set to do the sma challenge ourselves in september.
ReplyDeleteAny advice welcome?
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