A group of 25 colleagues – all amateur and novice climbers – are aiming to climb the highest 5 peaks in Ireland and the United Kingdom in under 48 hours while raising thousands for charity in the process. The intrepid team, who work for the Mallow-headquartered EPS Group or one of the Group’s companies across Ireland and the UK, will kickstart the mammoth task at the foot of Carrauntoohil at 2pm on Friday next, August 11th and already have over €32,000 in the bag.
The aim of the 5 Peaks Challenge is to ascend and descend the highest peaks in Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales within 48 hours, including all travelling and without breaking national speed limits or recommended driving times.
“It’s a logistical nightmare,” says challenge co-ordinator Gareth Wilson. “After our first climb, we’ve to get from Kerry to the opposite side of the country to climb Slieve Donard in the dark, before getting the ferry from Dublin Port to Holyhead. If we miss that ferry for any reason, the challenge is over before it’s even begun, so there’ll be no sleep on night number one, not to mind the few nights beforehand”!
Saturday sees the group face the challenge of Mount Snowdon in Wales, before travelling to the Lake District to take on the highest peak in England – Scafell Pike. The final leg of the journey sees the group head to Scotland to climb the highest mountain in the UK and Ireland, Ben Nevis.
Their physical efforts are also for three great causes – Pieta, Action Cancer and WaterAid. The team started a GIveWheel account in January with the aim of raising €20,000 but, when that was smashed in early July, talk immediately turned to €30,000.
“We couldn’t have done it without the amazing support of our product partners, supply chain and customers,” says Gareth. “We came up with the idea of asking them to sponsor the monetary value of the height of a peak and they really embraced the idea. In fact, some of the contributors weren’t happy to just donate financially, they’re also going to meet us at the peaks they’ve sponsored to climb them with us. We couldn’t have anticipated such an incredible response”.
Outside of the charitable angle, the company has seen many positives to the challenge, according to EPS Group’s Managing Director, Patrick Buckley. “We believe in supporting local communities and charities making a difference but last year, instead of simply making donations, we decided to make a conscious effort, post-Covid 19, to promote an active involvement and encourage our team to participate in fundraising and charity events, so here we are”!
Patrick notes that participation in the challenge has strengthened the bond between the team members. “We’re fortunate to have grown our footprint across Ireland and the UK in recent years and some of our naturally active hill walkers, marathon runners, triathlon participants and even Ironman competitors from each of our Group companies – who may never had had reason to cross paths before – have stepped up to partake in this exciting adventure.”
“The chosen charities resonate with each and every one of us,” says Patrick. “There will be many people on our minds and in our hearts as we undertake the 48-hour challenge, which is nothing compared to the challenge some people face each and every day. We are so grateful to all our generous donors and sponsors for their contributions”.
But the exploits don’t end there, as in November two of the team, Curtis Skipp and Kevin Davey, will travel to South America to face the 7-day 58km Machu Picchu Inca Trail in Peru to celebrate Action Cancer’s 50th anniversary and bring a year-long fundraising effort by the Group to a hopefully very successful and safe end.
“To some, it might seem insurmountable, but we cut our teeth on the 7 Peaks in the North last year,” says Gareth. “Our regular practice climbs have shown that we have the potential to break the record and that’s certainly our aim.”
You can donate and follow the team to see whether they’re on course to break the record on 5peakschallenge.ie