Between the 12 and 13 September 2009, Neil Whiteley and Stacy Gee, from Irwin Mitchell in Sheffield, successfully completed the National 3 Peaks Challenge in order to raise funds for Neurocare, a Sheffield based charity which raises funds for the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.
The challenge involved climbing the 3 highest mountains in each of Scotland, England and Wales – Ben Nevis, Scarfell Pike and Snowdon, a combined height of 3407 metres and distance of 27 miles! The national challenge is a notoriously tough feat bearing in mind the travelling distance between the peaks, and the added difficulty of coping with lack of sleep. Scarfell Pike is also climbed through the night, posing obvious dangers with navigation and climbing safely.
Regardless, Neil and Stacy went on to scale all 3 peaks despite the very un-British searing heat, perhaps the one weather related eventuality they did not prepare for! Neil commented: “we both had our highs and lows but it was well worth it. The physical effort didn’t really hit home until after we got back on the second day, when I was barely able to climb the stairs at home.”
Their efforts raised over £1500, including Gift Aid, after Irwin Mitchell topped up the fundraising with an extra £250. Neurocare is a Sheffield based charity which raises funds purely to buy cutting edge neurosurgical care for the benefit of critically injured patients at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. As a result of Neurocare’s work, the Hallamshire has access to state of the art equipment that the NHS is unable to fund.
Every year, the dedicated staff at the hospital’s neurosurgery unit save the lives of hundreds of critically injured patients with more and more surviving thanks to advances in technology. Without the funds raised including by Neurocare many of these advances could not be afforded.
Lesley Eland, Chief Executive of Neurocare, was very pleased with the funds raised. “I would like to say a huge, massive thank you to Stacy and Neil for completing the Neurocare 3 Peaks Challenge. This challenge is not to be underestimated and they both had to undergo an intensive training schedule. Even with successful training they both have an amazing story of endurance to tell. We really are so thankful and appreciative of their support. It was also so wonderful to see how Irwin Mitchell staff got behind Stacy and Neil, to support them with both morale and sponsorship, we are so thankful to them all.”
You can read more about Neurocare and their current projects by visiting their website - http://www.neurocare.org.uk/.
« Back to Our Community Activities