University team raises £5,000 by climbing Three Peaks

The 'Gift of Sight' team tackled the UK's highest peaks - Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England, and Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in Wales - over the weekend of September 7 and 8.

Each mountain presented its own challenges, from intense heat to stormy conditions.

At Ben Nevis, the unexpected 26-degree heat made climbing difficult with little shade.

Some team members suffered from heat stroke and low water supply, with one member resorting to drinking from a waterfall to stay hydrated.

The descent in darkness also tested their endurance.

At Scafell Pike, the team faced a steep rocky climb. Their descent took a toll on their knees, resulting in several members hobbling.

Heavy traffic and poor weather delayed their final climb at Snowdon.

The team set off at around 6pm, battling light rain and darkening skies.

As they neared the summit, fog descended, the wind speed increased, and rain lashed down.

Four team members near the peak had no choice but to continue, while others were forced to retrace their steps.

The team has since learned that they were battling gale force winds, and were told that mountaineering in such conditions is not advised.

Over the course of the challenge, the team hiked for 15.5 hours, took a collective 890,000 steps, and had about four hours of sleep over the 28.5 hours.

All funds raised will support the University of Southampton’s Gift of Sight Appeal, which helps in understanding the causes of blinding eye conditions and developing new treatments.

The team was made up of University of Southampton researchers Ellie Keeling, Catherine Robertson, Anna Muir, Charlie Ellis, Isaac Mondon, Angus Moffat, Samuel Liu, along with lab technician Raquel Mendes, and Gift of Sight’s Jennie Mugridge.

They were joined by supporters Josh Ronchetti, Mark Aarons and Hayden Fosling.

The minibus transport between the mountains was kindly sponsored by Sapphire Eye Care.