5 members of the Wigan & District Group, along with 2 drivers, put their hobby to good use by undertaking the National 3 Peaks Challenge during the summer, beneficiaries were WLFC, Dr Naqvi’s Heartbeat 2 Appeal, NW Air Ambulance, and Rainbow House and The Legacy.

What is the National 24 Hour Challenge?

To set foot upon the ‘peak’ of each of the 3 highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales, starting at the foot of Ben Nevis and finishing at Snowdon, via Scafell. . .ALL within 24 Hours (over 21st/22nd July 2013)

 

Wigan Group Secretary, Stewart Blagg, sought support from at least one member of each of the Group’s 3 Masonic Halls and so it was that Paul Shuttlewoth of Tuscan, Oak & Lamberthead Lodge, Neil Whittle from Borsdane Lodge and Mark Anders and Tom Edwards from Willows Lodge joined Stewart in this great and glorious undertaking, which consisted of: 26 miles of Walking, 10,121 feet of Climbing & 907 miles of Driving.

Setting off from the foot of Ben Nevis at 4.20pm on Sunday 21st July, in 29°c of heat, they completed Ben Nevis before being driven to Seathwaite in Cumbria, the start point for Scafell Pike, where they saw a glorious sunrise at 5.09am. Arriving at Pen y Pass at midday,

they set off to Snowdon at 12.21pm, topping out at 2.19pm – an overall time of 21 hours 58 minutes. Not satisfied with that, they beat a retreat to arrive back at the cars at 4.03pm making the complete ascent & descent of the 3 highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales within their 24 hour target.

Said Stewart “I am indebted to the ‘Team’ for entering into the spirit of things with such enthusiasm; for starting a training programme back in January and for seeking support of our worthy causes. I am also very grateful to Malcolm Bell, Snr & Jnr, and David Belshaw for supplying transport and driving the walkers around Country to complete the Challenge; without them it would have been impossible”.