A group of intrepid mental health NHS workers from Cardiff and the Vale have kindly decided to raise money for Hafal by taking on the Three Peaks Challenge – on the same day that service users carers and professionals will be scaling Pen y Fan as part of the “Movin’ On Up” campaign.
The Three Peaks challenge involves attempting to climb the three highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales namely Ben Nevis (1,344m), Scaffell Pike (978m) and Snowdon (1,085m) all within 24 hours – a phenomenal 27 miles and 3000m of ascent.
The Challenge complements the “Movin’ On Up” campaign Pen y Fan climb which takes place on Friday May 11th.
“The Three Peaks Challenge entails the added trials of sleeping on a minibus, coping with unpredictable weather/traffic conditions, cooking al fresco and trying to get along with work colleagues whilst spending 24 exhausting hours in each others’ company!” says Alison Carpenter from the Three Peaks team.
“We decided to raise money for Hafal because the organisation provides incredible opportunities for people to embrace their lives. Pardon the pun but organisations such as Hafal provide those who have experienced mental health difficulties with a kind of ‘map, compass and kitbag’ which provide direction and purpose; the end goal being a retrieval of health and wellbeing.”
While the Three Peaks Team begin their challenge service users and carers will be climbing Pen y Fan – the highest mountain in any part of southern Britain standing at 886 metres above sea level.
Lee McCabe, a former service user who now works as a Recovery Practitioner, explained: “The climb is symbolic: we want to demonstrate how service users and carers in Wales can lead the way forward, take services to a new level and achieve new heights in their empowerment by maximising the opportunities provided by the Mental Health (Wales) Measure, the Carers Measure and the Welsh Government’s new Mental Health Strategy.”
For more information on the ‘Movin’ On Up’ campaign please visit: http://www.hafal.org/hafal/movin-on-up.php
The Three Peaks climbers – Alison, Sam Brown, Rhiannon Davies, Maria Coombes, Justin Williams, Anthony Coombes, Steven Ford, Paul Emmerson, Julie Crutcher, Darren Stevens – have set up a JustGiving page for people who would like to sponsor their challenge. Here’s the link: www.justgiving.com/threepeakschallenge-in-crisis
The “Movin’ On Up” Campaign is run by service users and carers and is supported by Bipolar UK, Hafal and the Mental Health Foundation. For more information on the campaign go to: http://www.hafal.org/hafal/movin-on-up.php
Remember to keep checking Hafal’s Facebook page for campaign pics and updates…