Andrew & Matt face The Three Peaks Challenge

Lumina Energy 20th August 2024

On the 5th August 2024, our two team members, energy consultant Andrew Gillespie and Matt Brimsted, Systems & Reporting Analyst faced The Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for Sands. Sands is a fantastic charity supporting through the traumatic experiences of stillbirth and neonatal deaths.

The challenge involves hiking up the three biggest peaks in Wales (Snowdon, Cadair Idris, Pen y Fan); walking 17 miles (27.4km), with an ascent of 2334 meters (7657ft), within 24 hours. That’s the equivalent to over 6 Empire State Buildings!

It all started off with their journey to Wales and after about an hour and a half of sleep in a hostel room, they started their hike up Snowdon in the pitch black, rain, and wind at 3am. Luckily sheep were on hand to help guide the way because visibility was terrible!

At around 11am they started their climb up Cadair Idris and the weather was looking pretty good.. despite the warning sign and various people who told the pair to turn back because it was way too windy and could be dangerous at the top. However, they persevered and soon discovered that 55mph winds were coming from the other side of the mountain and when you approach to the top, you soon feel their full force and rain.

Once they hit milestone 2, it was on to Pen-y-Fan in Brecon Beacons at around 6pm to begin the final hike. By this point both Andrew and Matt were pretty tired, understandably, however, they took comfort in knowing that there was only one more to go, and this was the easiest of the three. In total it took them only a couple of hours to reach to the top and get back down again.

In total they counted that they had walked around 56,000 steps, 17 miles, and burnt about 6,700ish calories.

At the end, they relaxed in a nice warm pub, with a good meal.

So far both have raised over £250 for Sands and the total keeps rising too.

Well done to both Andrew and Matt for a fantastic achievement in hiking the Three Peaks and raising money for such a worthwhile and needed cause.