Climbing champions raise over £13,000 for YMCA East Surrey

YMCA East Surrey is celebrating a successful three peaks challenge which involved 29 climbers raising a combined total of £13,019 through two days of scaling three mountains.

The teams included three young people living in YMCA accommodation and the funds raised will be used to help fit out a new young people’s housing initiative in Salfords, housing 14.

The three peaks challenge team heading off for Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)

Teams ascended 1,345m (4,413ft) to the summit of Ben Nevis in Scotland in unseasonally foul weather on 19^th June. Then, in just one day on 20^th June they traversed up Scafell Pike, Cumbria, at 978m (3,209ft) and reached the top of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in Wales at 1,085m (3,560ft).

The challenge participants took part in free training sessions over the course of six months which involved numerous steep climbs up Surrey’s North Downs.

Ian Burks, CEO at YMCA East Surrey, who took part as a climb team leader said, “We are so fortunate to have such a brilliant group of people who go to such great lengths to support the work of the YMCA.

“This includes not only some amazingly determined fundraisers who trained so hard to complete the challenge – among them three young people living in YMCA accommodation – but also a team of skilled and committed volunteers who supported the climbers throughout, including driving through the night between mountains.

CEO Ian Burks, pictured right, with fellow climbers at Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) summit

“Massive congratulations go to everyone involved for achieving their personal goals. A special note of thanks is due to our top fundraiser, Elaine Crawford, who raised an outstanding £1,951, contributing to a fantastic overall Three Peaks challenge total of over £13,000.”