The Anchor Team Take On Three Peaks In 24 Hours Challenge

Martin McDowell, Mark Percival, Sam Magee, and Peter Canevale (Image: George Munro)

A top trekking trio is getting ready to take on a gruelling challenge in aid of a much-loved Inverclyde suicide prevention charity.

Dedicated members of the team at The Anchor are getting ready to tackle the 'Three Peaks in 24 Hours' challenge to raise money for the cause.

The Anchor project support workers Peter Canevale and Martin McDowell, alongside project practitioner Mark Percival, will travel up and down Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon - the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales - within a 24-hour period next month.

The intrepid trekkers say they're training hard in preparation for the hike, which will begin on May 24 – and they aren't fazed by the fact that only 40 per cent of people who take on the challenge complete it in a day.

Peter said: "We like a challenge and wanted to try to push ourselves. Life is a challenge, so we'll definitely be able to do it.

"We want to give something back and show people what we can do if we push ourselves. We’re doing it because we're passionate about helping the people of Inverclyde."

The Anchor's lead practitioner Sam Magee will be supporting the hikers by driving them to and from each location and documenting the challenge on social media.

The mammoth task will take around 11 hours of driving and 13 hours of hiking.

Martin, Mark, and Peter plan to start the Ben Nevis trek at 6pm on the Saturday, and to be back down again by 11pm before travelling overnight to England for Scafell Pike, and then on to Wales for Snowdon.

They estimate it will take around five hours to complete Ben Nevis, four for Scafell Pike, and four for Snowdon. Martin said there's great motivation for the challenge.

He added: "The community have raised funds for us, so this is our chance to thank them by giving something back.

"We are supporting the needs of the community. I'm sure there will be a lot of challenges along the way."

The trio has set up a WhatsApp group to track each other's training and say that's been good for pushing each other on.

Mark said: "Training towards something is inspiring us all to keep going. You have to get into the right mindset to take on challenges like this.

"We want to raise money and raise awareness of suicide prevention. All of the money raised will go back into the community."

The dedicated walkers are hoping to raise £3,000 for the cause which will be channelled into local suicide prevention services.

Peter said keeping safe through the challenge is the most important part.

He added: "We've done munros but never something like this.

"We’re doing everything we can and getting better all the time. We just have to take it bit by bit. It's mind over matter."

Bowman Rebecchi is proud to be sponsoring the Anchor Team and wishes all of them well on their quest.

To donate, please visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/theanchorthreepeaks

This article and image appeared in the Greenock Telegraph.