14 staff from Nelson and Colne College have successfully completed a mammoth task – the National 3 Peaks Challenge, climbing the country’s highest mountains, Ben Nevis (Scotland), Scarfell Pike (England) and Snowdon (Wales).

Nelson and Colne College has a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team and staff are encouraged to take part in a variety of health initiatives including an end of year Health and Wellbeing Day (which includes a variety of activities including pamper sessions, walking, various sporting activities and a team Sports Day in the afternoon!), Heartstart Training and much more. Therefore, when the opportunity arose for staff to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation by taking on one of the UK’s toughest challenges, the College was thrilled to put together a team of 14 climbers!

The staff split into two teams:

Team 1

Louise Peate

Michelle Chapman

Morag Davis

Gillian Sibson

Craig Midgley

Samantha Barnes

Neil Morville

Team 2

Martin Hefferon

Oliver Baybut-Peyton

Stuart Baistow

Ged Preston

Trevor Allison

Alexis Walker

John Bleddyn Hughes

The teams were supported by their colleagues, Richie Watts, Martin Stopforth, Mo Rafique and Shakoor Ghafoor, who drove between the peaks and provided essential back up.

The challenge was organised by Richie Watts, Student Programme Co-ordinator and Public Services tutor, who is a First Responder and also a qualified Heartstart trainer. He said, “23 hours and 55 minutes for Team 1 and a little bit more for Team 2 was a fantastic achievement!  The walkers were brilliant, they put their heads down and went for it to fulfil their dream of completing the challenge and the support team did their part in helping them achieve it! An all-around great team effort!”

Alexis Walker is the College’s Sportmaker, she said, “The 3 peaks was something that I had always fancied doing, and as a new employee at the College I was excited to hear that a group of staff was taking on the challenge. I saw it as a fantastic opportunity to meet new colleagues and become involved in some of the great things the College has to offer for the staff. I keep myself active but realised it was a perfect test for me, both physically and mentally. I like to test myself and the fact that it was to raise money for a great charity, the British Heart foundation, made it an opportunity not to be missed.”

Martin Hefferon, Systems Analyst said “I want to thank everyone who supported the group with tweets, donations just anything really as it did help! It’s something I will definitely be telling family for years to come!”

Science tutor Louise Peate said, “It was a great experience and a real challenge and I am really glad we did it! There was a good sense of camaraderie between both teams and a real sense of achievement when we had completed it.”

Through sponsorships and donations, the teams managed to raise over £1000 for the British Heart Foundation.