Four Laps. One Challenge. Over £7,000 Raised
Last weekend, our colleague Will completed a truly gruelling version of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge – four laps, totalling 97 miles, 20,500ft of ascent, and more than 32 hours on foot – all in support of four charities close to his heart.
The Challenge
The event had been in planning since January 2025, with a training schedule to match. But in the days leading up to the start, life didn’t slow down — Will collected new house keys on Wednesday and juggled Scout leadership duties on Thursday. With only a few hours of rest the night before, he set off from Horton-in-Ribblesdale at 5:17 am on Friday, 11th July, ready to take on the first of four circuits.
Each lap was dedicated to a different cause:
- Bowel Cancer UK
- Breast Cancer UK
- Headway
- Overgate Hospice
From the outset, safety was a key consideration. As a trained Scout leader, Will packed an emergency kit for every lap — including medical tape, pain relief, thermal blankets, and essentials for dealing with injuries or weather extremes — while friends and support crews were on standby throughout.
Lap One – Confidence High
Joined by colleague Chris and friend James, lap one felt strong — too strong in hindsight. With cool morning temperatures and clear conditions, Will completed the lap in 5 hours 15 minutes, finishing 35–40 minutes ahead of schedule. The group paused only briefly to refuel before heading back out.
Lap Two – The Real Test Begins
Now joined by his brother and friends from London, lap two was completed in 26°C heat, under a blazing sky with no shade. The effort became more about endurance than speed. Cooling off in streams, reapplying sun cream, and stretching on summits became essential. By the end of lap two, Will had to reassess. The conditions were brutal, and the toll on the body was real.
Lap Three – When Things Unravel
Just a mile into lap three, trouble started. Will’s left foot began to fail — pressure on the ball of the foot caused serious pain. Compeed, tape, and determination were applied, but pain persisted.
Climbing Pen-y-Ghent again, he was overwhelmed by fatigue and temperature swings — overheating behind a wall, then shivering minutes later. Scout leader friends pulled him back together with food, layers, and motivation, and got him moving again toward the seventh summit of the day.
Whernside was a long drag. The right foot gave out too — Will couldn’t put weight on it, and others had to remove his boots and help strap it up mid-route. One surreal highlight around 2 am: while Will was wrapped in gloves and thermal layers trying to stay warm, a Scout leader — overheating like the rest of the team — poured two litres of water over his own head to cool down. The contrast underscored just how much Will’s body was struggling to regulate itself.
Lap Four – Survival Mode
The final lap, starting at 3:30 am Saturday, was a slow, painful hobble from beginning to end. Will wasn’t sure how he’d finish it, but spirits lifted when a new group of friends joined on the descent from Ingleborough, helping carry him through. Another highlight was a good friend, Recce, who was visibly struggling himself but treated everyone to his version of “yoga” on the way to the final summit.
His Dad and Uncle joined the final stretch, a poignant moment, as bowel cancer, one of the four causes, had directly affected their family.
Each peak brought some relief. But even after summiting Ingleborough one last time, there were still 4 more miles to walk. Every step was slow, every movement painful, but Will kept moving.
Back at base, family and friends, including his Grandma, were waiting to celebrate a truly remarkable effort. “If I weren’t doing this for charity, I would have probably pulled the plug after lap two,” Will said.
Thank You
Will extends his heartfelt thanks to the many family, friends, and supporters, some who walked, some who donated, some who ran the necessary checkpoints, and many who sent messages of encouragement from afar. This was never a solo effort, and the response has been overwhelming.
See totel raised: https://www.justgiving.com/team/yorkshire3peaks-4loops
