Two siblings are set to climb the three highest peaks of England, Scotland and Wales in 24 hours – raising thousands of pounds for the hospice that cared for their late mum.
Brother and sister Olli and Hannah Sharp, from Harrold in Bedfordshire, will team up with their cousin Joseph Sharp and friends Andrew Knight, Joe Rubens and Jack Gowing.
Their super-speedy challenge will see them climb Ben Nevis in Scotland on the evening of Friday, July 2. They will then make their way to the Lake District in England, to tackle Scafell Pike and watch the sun rise on the Saturday. The final stop will see the hikers scaling Mount Snowdon in Wales.
That’s a total walking distance of 23 miles and an ascent of 3,064 metres.
To make sure they stick to their 24 hour deadline, they will be driven between the mountains by their stepdad, James Bayliss – a driving distance of 462 miles.
The trekkers are taking on the special adventure in memory of Olli and Hannah’s late mum, Suzanne Sharp, who was cared for at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice in Moggerhanger near Bedford.
At the time of writing, they had raised more than £2,100 for the charity.
“Sue Ryder is an organisation that is very close to our heart,” said Olli, who is a university graduate. “Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice did an incredible job looking after our mum during her final stages of cancer.
“The facilities were immaculate and perfect for mum, and the staff were so helpful in making her feel comfortable and helping us through when she passed away in 2016.
“I remember the garden at St John’s being a great place to comfortably sit and talk with mum after school. I have several fond memories of the staff checking on us to make sure we had everything we needed while we visited.
“Sue Ryder hospices provide an essential service for those who are looking to be comfortable and taken care of when they are ill. St John’s went above and beyond when we needed them, and we have a huge amount of admiration for the team over there.
“Five years on, we could not think of a better organisation to raise money for. We hope this fundraiser helps the Sue Ryder teams continue their fantastic work into the future.”
This challenge is a fitting tribute to Suzanne, who took part in a number of charity events. Several of her friends also started a fundraising group, called The Jellybabes after their love of Jelly Babies sweets while out walking, in her honour.
“Our mum was a bright light in our lives and continues to be a huge inspiration to our family and friends,” added Olli.
“She was loved by many and would always be a positive, kind, funny, lively and caring person, even when facing the difficult battle of cancer. Over the years she was ill, she took part in charity events like the MoonWalk with her friends, The Jellybabes, and raised money for charities like Cancer Research UK.
“So, in the spirit of these walks, we wanted to take on a walking challenge as big as mum’s personality, and her effect on the people who were lucky enough to know and remember her.”
Ellie Burke, Community Fundraiser at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice, said: “A huge thank you to Olli, Hannah, Joseph, Andrew, Joe and Jack for their support – we want to wish them all the luck in the world as they embark on their epic mountain adventure. The funds and awareness raised through their inspiring tribute will help us to continue being there for other families when they need it most.”
You can support the hikers’ Three Peaks Challenge through their JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/threepeaksforsuzanne
The national healthcare charity Sue Ryder, which runs Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice, launched an appeal last month asking people to help them fill families’ final days together with love. By supporting their ‘Room Full of Love’ campaign, you can help Sue Ryder Nurses and staff continue to go above and beyond, helping to give families a better goodbye. For more information visit sueryder.org/rooms
