My Oppo’s 2021 3 Peak Challenge!

On the 23rd of July 2021 a team of 30 local heroes took part in the ultimate 24 hour challenge – The National Three Peaks Challenge! This challenge was dedicated to Dan Dempsey a former Irish Guard who sadly lost his life due to his struggles with PTSD.

This arduous challenge involves climbing the three highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales, all within 24 hours.

The total walking distance is 23 miles (37km) and the total ascent is 3064 metres (10,052ft) – twice the ascent of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, over a similar total walking distance. The total driving distance is 462 miles.

If you would like to join either the My Oppo’s 3 peak challenge 2021 or 2022 please send us an email with a little text on why you would like to help us tackle these three mountains by clicking the button below!

As a team we have set a target of £15,000, this will enable us to help so many people and families effected by PTSD.

Please show your support by clicking on the donate button below.

The famous peak attracts 125k walkers a year.

Ben Nevis was once a massive active volcano which exploded and collapsed inwards on itself millions of years ago. At the summit, there is evidence of an explosion in the form of light-coloured granite. The name itself has two translations from the ancient Gaelic language, meaning ‘mountain with its head in the clouds’, thanks to its iconic mist-shrouded peak, or it can also mean ‘venomous mountain’ … I prefer the first meaning!

Proudly standing at 1,345 m (4412 ft) this surely is the perfect way to break into the challenge for the My Oppo team!

Scafell Pike, at 978m, is England’s highest mountain and war memorial, cared for by the National Trust as a result of a gift after the war. Thousands of people enjoy Scafell Pike each year.

Climbing Scafell Pike is a serious undertaking and should not be underestimated. Whichever route you take, it’s a tough, steep hike which involves scrambling over hard terrain. Planning and preparation are key whatever the season.

Arguably the toughest of the three mountains (and after a almost 6 hour drive) the My Oppo team are sure to be seizing up by this stage!

Maturely standing 1,085m (3,560ft) tall over the village of Llanberis, Snowdon is a part of a close-knit family of jagged peaks and can offer views of Snowdonia.

The scars of Snowdon’s industrial past sprinkle the mountainside, as copper was once mined here, and you can see the remains of the crushing mill and barracks along the Miner’s Path. 

– That is all from me, now lets meet a couple of members of the team and why they have decided to take this challenge head on!

“As a funeral director I have seen first hand and had to help families who have sadly lost their loved ones due to PTSD, and it is something I wish didn’t exist and the pain that is left behind is completely unimaginable. Anything I can do to help raise awareness and support for not only those who have PTSD, but also their loved ones too I will happily do, even if it means doing the most physical challenge I have ever attempted! I’m really excited and a bit scared to do this and even if we help one person then it will all be worth it. Rebecca and Kheiron are amazing for setting this up whilst going through it themselves and I will do anything I can do to help! Xx”

– Natalie

“I have been training for fun for a couple of years now and have been looking for a challenge for 2021. I was told about the event by a friend involved with My Oppo and I was keen to to help out for a charity which deals in Mental health issues, especially one which works with families.”

– Lexi

“We all know food is my life and the occasional gin, so this is by far the biggest challenge I have ever taken on but but I will be doing it with all I have got and along side sone amazing people! This last couple of years has been a struggle with all of life’s happenings but the last few months have been a real test for me with my mental health after everything I have been through and many others I know of also. So I am doing this challenge myself to make me see and believe I am stronger and more determined that I feel at times. After losing and grieving for the babies I have lost, to then having a new baby who I feel so lucky to have along side his big brother. This has been a big mental change for me personally and it has caught up with me, I want others to know its ok not to be ok and that you’re not alone in your struggles. I hope to raise money and awareness for the charity My Oppo, any donations will be much appreciated. Thank you in advance.”

– Kayleigh

“After being diagnosed with PTSD a few year back. I was completely unaware of the condition. I never heard about anyone talk about mental health conditions really, not even family. So I naturally blocked these horrible feelings the best I could and suffered in silence. Every day was a struggle. I’m taking part in this challenge to help the charity My Oppo raise awareness for those suffering in silence. For friends and family to get a better understanding of what symptoms to look out for if they think a loved one may have PTSD, and ultimately save lives! Thank you in advance for any donations!”

– Hayley

“I’ve suffered with my mental health health for years. Without the support of my wife and family and friends, I would have struggled to go on. That’s why I am completing this challenge for My Oppo.”

– Dan

“I’m taking part in the Three Peaks Challenge to raise money and support those who have risked their lives to serve and protect our country. I think it’s unjust that there isn’t more support out there for those who are living with PTSD, so anything that I can do to change that, I’m going to do.”

– Marcus

“Being part of the military family we have seen all the good and all the that comes with military life. The part that gets spoken about the least is the bad. Being around military personnel we have seen and lived with this first hand. By doing this challenge we would like to help and raise awareness to other families living or dealing with PTSD.

We also like challenging ourselves and thought this would be the perfect way to bring two things that are close to our heart together.”

Paul + Danielle B

“I’ve missed hiking during lockdown so this is the perfect opportunity for me to get my boots back on whilst raising money and awareness for an incredible cause. Bring on those peaks!

Simmy

What the challenge did for the team

For me the journey started way back on the 1st February. What was very much an off the cuff comment/ idea to raise awareness and much need funds to get the charity up and run to what it eventually was is absolutely amazing and a massive congratulations to Rebecca and Kheiron for all you efforts 👏 but also to everyone that took part in organising something, the drivers for being unsung heros in their own rights 💪 and for everyone that gave someone a word of encouragement, a shoulder to cry on or an ear to bend along the way. You all played your parts every step of the way.

Personal reflection as I said my journey started back at the beginning of February an adventure that has seen me turn round my mindset, my lifestyle, lose 6 stone in weight and concour the Three biggest mountains in the UK. I met some really inspirational people along the way and iv been quite emotional about it all day. Thank you all for being the legends you are and the memories of this weekend will stay with me forever. 🙏🙏🙏

Last but by no means least i am so proud of my wife for completing it with me she was absolutely amazing. Her mental strength and courage were second to none and that has made my heart absolutely burst for her ❤ over the last few months she has been under alot of pressure with her accountacy degree at college, while making sure as mums do that the children, me included 🤣 have all we need on a daily basis. All this along with some injury problems ment she couldn’t train as much as she would have liked but she rolled up her sleeves and smashed it. Well done chick. 😘😘

Onwards and upwards though now. This journey for me is not over 💪 I will be looking out for the next myoppo challenge and happy to jump on board with anything you can throw at me 😁

Once again thank you to everyone for playing your part this weekend and god bless you all 🙏🙏

Matt Bamber

You guys were all amazing ❤️ and it was so lovely to spend most of going up snowden with you and seeing what a great family unit you are how much you supported and cared for each other too as well as us lucky few that were tagged onto you, watching you guys honestly got me and my knee up that mountain! … and made me and Marcus cry like lil bitches at every opportunity! 🤪🥰 big love to the whole team each and everyone of us should be proud! 🙌🏻❤️💪🏻🏔

Natalie Savell-Boss

Thank you Becky and Kieron for letting me take part in this amazing challenge. I’ve throughly enjoyed it and have met some inspiring, lovely people along the way. I didn’t get chance to speak to everyone but felt proud to be part of a strong, uplifting team working together 💪🏼 and it’s for such an amazing charity which I enjoyed fundraising for ❤️ xx

Kerri Collins