Rob takes on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge, not once, but twice!

Rob from Grimsby has completed a double Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, walking the iconic 24-mile route, not just once, but twice, and back to back! So far, he has raised almost £2,600 for Willow.

Rob completed the full loop twice in succession in 23 hours and 23 minutes, tackling Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough overnight and covering an astonishing 48.36 miles and over 3,000m of ascent.

“I love the idea that Willow helps families both practically and emotionally so that they can create a special memory in the most emotional and difficult of times.”

Rob’s inspiration

“I heard of Willow when my wife and I attended a local charity event last year. After speaking with the organisers, Pete and Eunice, and hearing for myself the positive effect that Willow had on their family, I decided there and then that Willow was a charity that I would be proud to support.

“I love physical activity and have completed many fundraising challenges over the years. For example, I once walked the 500-mile Camino de Santiago in Spain. Another time, I cycled 1,200 miles from Ravenna in Italy back home. I have walked the Yorkshire Three Peaks numerous times and often wondered if I was capable of completing the loop twice – within 24 hours. When I thought about fundraising for Willow, I decided that now was the time to give it a try, and the idea of the Double Three Peaks challenge was born.

“Pete and Eunice have since become friends, and they joined me for some of the walk as well as the celebration dinner afterwards. In fact, the walk was made extra special because I was supported not only by them but also by many other friends and family.”

From start to finish

“I started at about 6 pm on Saturday 26 July in Horton in Ribblesdale. I walked through the night and continued walking throughout the day, finishing at approximately 5:20 pm on Sunday. In total, I walked 48.36 miles, which took 23 hours and 23 minutes, including a short break of 1 hour 15 minutes after the night walk in order to have some food, shower and change into fresh clothing.

“Being on top of Ingleborough at 2 o’clock in the morning, pitch dark and in thick fog, was a magical moment. We encountered a few walkers at the beginning, but once the sun went down, we did not see another soul until we returned to Horton in Ribblesdale the next morning.”

“The last 5 miles of the walk were definitely the most difficult as I had already been walking for approximately 43 miles without sleep. Mentally the end was in sight, but I knew that I still had to walk for another couple of hours.”

Defying expectations

“I think that some of my family and friends secretly thought that this challenge may prove to be too extreme considering that I will be 65 on my next birthday but they were all very proud of me when I proved them wrong and succeeded in completing the walk. I certainly felt proud, elated and emotional – and very tired.”

“I have completed quite a few extreme challenges over the years but this one was the hardest and the most important to me because I felt that I was doing it for Willow as well as for Pete, Eunice, and their late son.”

“Although I was hurting afterwards for many days, it was a most rewarding and memorable experience!”

Feeling inspired?

If you’re feeling motivated by Rob’s inspiring effort, why not take on your own fundraising challenge? Get in touch with us today to find out how you can help support seriously ill young adults across the UK.