A dedicated group of friends from the golf industry conquered the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge to raise tens of thousands of pounds for the charity Help for Heroes.
The team of 11, from all corners of the industry, climbed the UK’s three highest peaks – Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike – in a time of 22 hours 45 minutes and have so far raised £27,111.35 for Help for Heroes, to support the Battle Back initiative, a tri-service organisation which uses Adaptive Adventure Training and Sports Rehabilitation to help seriously wounded service personnel gain confidence and return to an active life.
The group was made up of Colin Mayes, Jim Conlan, Tristan Hall and Andy Owen (Burhill Golf & Leisure), Kevin Hart (Club Car), Andrew Brown (Toro), Daniel Hodson (De Vere), Simon Thorpe (Expressions Partnership), John Weir (Cornerstone Golf), golf course manager Chris Lomas and course designer Jonathan Gaunt.
They kicked off the challenge at 3.55am on Saturday, July 24, climbing the UK’s highest peak Ben Nevis in Scotland, with words of encouragement from World Number Three Lee Westwood, a Help for Heroes ambassador, ringing in their ears.
Ben Nevis was conquered in four hours, before the team headed to Scafell Pike in the Lake District, scaling that in three hours 25 minutes. A four-hour drive to North Wales gave the team a chance for a quick rest before tackling Snowdon, which was climbed in four hours 30 minutes, finishing the challenge at 2.40am on Sunday, July 25.
Colin Mayes said: “It was an extremely tough challenge both physically and mentally, but the group pulled together and helped each other through. To finish the challenge in just less than 23 hours was a great achievement, and raising so much money for such a great cause was an even bigger accomplishment, and one that the whole team is proud of.”
Kevin Hart added: “We spent a total of 11 hours 55 minutes climbing the three mountains. British Military Fitness (BMF), who coordinated the Three Peaks Challenge, in which nine teams participated, adds 10 hours to your climbing time for transportation. So our official time was 21 hours 55 minutes, resulting in second place, a fantastic effort for a group of golfers.
“The main aim of the Challenge was to raise as much money for Help for Heroes Battle Back Golf as possible. The sum raised currently stands at £27,500 and the team is still working to exceed £30,000 by the time we present a cheque to Battle Back Golf in early September.
“The golf industry has been magnificent in offering so much financial support to this very worthy cause and the whole team would like to thank everyone who has been kind enough to sponsor them.”
The group will present a cheque to the Battle Back initiative on Wednesday, September 1, at Burhill Golf Club, Surrey, where they will also enjoy a round of golf with a number of Battle Back golfers.
Donations can still be made by visiting: https://www.bmycharity.com/V2/group.aspx?g=61dcad44-a6bb-45ad-ab78-da666b4d1c17