Parker & Son Office employee completes Three Peaks Challenge for charity

Parker & Son Office Manager Rachael Newble has conquered the Three Peaks Challenge to raise vital funds for blood cancer charity DKMS.

The National Three Peaks Challenge is a gruelling endurance event which involves summiting the highest peak in Scotland (Ben Nevis), England (Scafell Pike) and Wales (Snowdon) all within 24 hours.

At 6:40am on Sunday 6th September Rachael, along with a group of nine others, set off for the summit of Ben Nevis (arguably the most difficult hill to climb because of its greatest height gain and knee-jarring descent). The group didn’t expect to summit as the forecast predicted 70 mph winds which made the climb dangerous. Luckily, the forecast was inaccurate and through the driving wind and rain five of the group managed to summit. 

It was then back down the mountain and on to the minibus to travel to Scarfell Pike. They began their climb at 7pm. The rain finally ceased which was a welcome break for the hikers, however the 65 mph winds made the climb quite treacherous. 

Rachael describes: “Questioning my life choices as I nearly got blown off the mountain at some points!”

But the group were up and down the mountain in just 3hrs 14 minutes which is no mean feat.

The rain returned with vengeance as they arrived at the base of Snowdon. Fatigued and severely sleep-deprived, the group set off at 3:45am. 

Rachael describes the climb: “Perhaps my worst peak –  it was awful. My waterproof trousers were definitely not waterproof!  We were going across a rock face in the dark, in the rain with just head torches on…so many times on the hike up I wanted to give up.”

But Rachael didn’t give up, at 6.25am she, along with four other members of the group, summited Snowdon completing the Three Peaks Challenge. 

“The relief, the tears, the cold all hit me at once with the realisation of what we had managed to achieve!” Rachael said. “It was far harder than I ever ever managed it to be. But I was so proud to be just one of four people out of the 10 strong group that managed to summit all three peaks! 

“My daughter asked me what I thought about while I was hiking up. Apart from not falling off the peaks and keeping both feet on the ground, it was mostly my Dad and all my amazing sponsors who believed in me and supported me through my challenge… I really can’t thank you all enough.

The inspiration for Rachael to take on this challenge was to raise vital funds for DKMS in memory of her father, Gordon, who sadly died of Blood cancer 15 years ago. 

DKMS works to increase the number of potential blood stem cell donors available to people with blood cancer and blood disorders.

“Dad would be humbled to think of everyone who made a donation in his memory and, through this, more people can get support from the DKMS. All I would say is, if you weren’t able to sponsor me, please look at becoming a stem cell donor instead and maybe you can help someone battling blood cancer.”

Parker & Son proudly supported Rachael in this ambitious endeavour and couldn’t be more pleased that not only did she raise money for such a vital cause, but also the great achievement of summiting all three peaks in 24 hours.