“Exhausting, exhilarating and rewarding” - this is how employees of Barclays Wealth and Investment Management have described a fundraising mountain climb which involved scaling the three highest peaks in Britain.
The demanding challenge was designed to raise money for one of Barclays’ charities of the year the Isle of Man Children’s Centre, with Barclays matching the money raised by the team pound-for-pound. It is anticipated the effort will have brought in more than ?5,000 for the charity.
After three months’ of preparation, the team of 15 set out over the Tynwald weekend with the aim of climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, a total ascent of 9,800 feet.
Every member of the team managed the grueling climb to each summit.
Team member Ben Smaller, an Assistant Vice President at Barclays Wealth and Investment Management, said: “We began the ascent of Ben Nevis at 8.30am on Saturday, Scafell at 8.20pm and Snowdon at 5.20am on Sunday. We had 3 hours 7 minutes to get up and down Snowdon within the 24 hours, and it was expected to take 4 hours, so we knew it would be extremely tight for time.”
“It would have been very unusual for it all to have run perfectly, and while we made good time on the peaks, we lost some time on the road. Despite that, we can be very proud that every single member of the team completed every peak.”
He added: “Although the team members had different endurance abilities, we had all trained for the distance and altitude, and everyone managed the ascents and descents really well. It was a real endurance event; one team member who finished this year’s Parish Walk said this was even tougher!”
“One of the real challenges was travelling for five or six hours between the peaks, in a minibus, cramped and with no sleep”
During the Three Peaks Challenge, the team from Barclays was supported by seven people from the Children’s Centre and its MOBEX project, which provides outdoor pursuits for young people.
Fellow team member Jon Wagstaffe, a manager at Barclays Wealth and Investment Management, said: “The support of the Children’s Centre was invaluable, especially with the driving. The centre did all the planning, the logistics, booking accommodation and ferries, planning the routes and so on. That allowed us to concentrate on training, raising the money and then turning up and completing the Three Peaks.”
“Donations are still coming in, but I would be very surprised if, with Barclays matching our fundraising pound-for-pound, we don’t raise at least ?5,000.”
Ben added: “It was hard work, and exhausting, but I think we all took away a real sense of achievement. The view from the top of each peak was amazing – we were unbelievably lucky with the weather – so you felt the achievement with each climb, as well as the sense of achievement when we all completed Snowdon on Sunday.”
“Of course, there’s also the real sense of achievement that we have raised money for a great local charity. We’ve learned a lot about the Children’s Centre, and MOBEX, and I think we encourage everyone to support what they do.”
The Children’s Centre works with children, young people and families in 15 locations across the Island. Through the Children’s Centre, children and young people are offered care, play, learning and residential care.
For families, the Children’s Centre offers parents support throughout pregnancy into teenage years and offers advice on a range of issues including divorce, contact and child behaviour.
Photo - Members of the team which took on the Three Peaks Challenge for the Isle of Man Children’s Centre, one of Barclays’ charities of the year.
