A serving member of the RAF Regiment is preparing for an extraordinary test of endurance to raise vital funds for military personnel, veterans, and their families.
An Epic Winter Challenge for a Vital Cause
Howard Kniveton, based at RAF Leeming and from Rotherham, will embark on a mammoth, self-supported fundraiser for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. His mission is the gruelling 500-mile National Three Peaks challenge, which he will begin from the summit of Ben Nevis on January 15.
This is no ordinary hike. Howard will tackle the entire journey on foot in the depths of winter, navigating from Ben Nevis to Scafell Pike and on to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). Temperatures on these peaks in mid-January are typically below freezing, with wind chill making conditions even more severe.
Living Off the Land for 20 Days
"Self-supported means just that," Howard explains. He plans to complete the colossal trek in just 20 days, wild camping each night, living out of his pack, and surviving on ration packs. He has set a fundraising target of £5,000 and has so far raised around £1,000.
"As a serving member of the RAF Regiment, this challenge is deeply personal to me," said Howard. "My primary goal is to raise as much awareness and support as possible for the vital support provided to serving personnel, veterans, and their families."
Inspired by Veterans Like Nick
The funds raised will support veterans such as Nick, who served for 11 years in the British Army. A medical condition forced Nick to leave his dream job and he subsequently faced immense hardship, including living in a tent in the woods during winter. SSAFA stepped in to help him build a new home and a new life.
"I’m sleeping in the wild during winter through choice, but Nick didn’t have the luxury of choice when he was out in all weathers," Howard stated. "And that’s why I’m doing this, so that SSAFA can be there for people like Nick or the 55,000 others the charity helps annually."
He added that every step represents the strength and resilience of the Armed Forces community. The journey across rugged terrain in unpredictable weather will be tough, but it is his way of showing solidarity with past, present, and future service people.
To support Howard's incredible winter challenge, you can visit his JustGiving page. You can also follow his preparation and journey on Instagram.
