Tom Danson is taking on the National Three Peaks challenge with his brother, Robert, in aid of Moya Cole Hospice and in memory of his sister, Cathy, who was cared for at the hospice. Tom wanted to challenge himself, so when he heard that Robert was planning on doing the challenge, he thought it would be a great way to raise money and give back to the hospice.
Tom said: “Robert tried to do it once before. He got very unlucky with the weather. There was a massive downpour. He’s going to try it again and I thought it would be a nice thing to do together.”
The National Three Peaks Challenge
The National Three Peaks challenge consists of hiking up the highest mountain in Wales (Snowdon), England (Scafell Pike), and Scotland (Ben Nevis). The goal is to do the challenge in as little time as possible. Some people manage the challenge in less than 24 hours.
He added: “I’ve never done Ben Nevis or Snowdon but have been up Scafell Pike lots of times. I’m really looking forward to the challenge, particularly Ben Nevis, as I’ve heard from people that it is so beautiful up there.
“It’s nice when you have a big challenge ahead of you, it keeps you in a healthy routine with diet and training.”
Giving Back to the Hospice
It’s important to Tom to do this challenge for Moya Cole Hospice as he wanted to give back to the place that cared for his sister. Tom said: “The way she was treated was really nice. She’s got a now 12-year-old son. He was scared and wouldn’t go to her room; Cathy would always come out and meet him in the coffee lounge. It made it a much less scary place for him. Everyone there was really thoughtful and nice, and the entire family very much appreciated the work that they do.
“We found out when we were there that the hospice needs to make £20,000 a day to keep their doors open and so my mum has been giving back to the hospice, she made some large donations and this is me and my brother’s way of giving back.”
Challenge Details and How to Support
Tom and Robert will be taking part in the challenge in October. They will travel to their first destination on Saturday, beginning early Sunday morning and finishing their final peak in the early hours of Monday morning.
If you would like to find out more about the hospice’s National Three Peaks challenge and where to sign up, visit: moyacole.org.uk/events/national-three-peaks-trek/.
Moya Cole Hospice provides holistic care to patients with life-limiting illnesses - comprising inpatient care, day therapy and supportive outpatient services from its sites at Heald Green, Stockport and Little Hulton, Salford. The teams at the hospice also provide a range of community and outreach services to patients, including care in the place they call home via a Hospice at Home service available in Salford and Trafford, the hospice’s Community Specialist Palliative Care Team in Salford, and the homelessness palliative care service in Manchester.
A 24-hour telephone advice line is available to patients, carers and healthcare professionals in Salford, Manchester, Trafford and Stockport.
