THE 2 PEAKS PLUS CAERNARFON CASTLE CHALLENGE Congratulations to Sam Dixon, Virgin Trains, who has won the photo competition. Click here to see some of his pictures. The Three Peaks Challenge 2006 train departed from a hot, balmy Euston at 6pm on Thursday 21st September. Threats of the effects of Hurricane Gordon hitting our event seemed very unlikely but more of that later! 200 people from companies all over the UK took part in this unique event, climbing the highest mountains in Wales, England and Scotland in under 36 hours with a special train taking us between the mountains. We were delighted to welcome a team from America, part of a large contingent from Sperry Rail. Not only did they have 3 mountains to climb and 2 nights with very little sleep but they also jet lag to contend with! As we approached Bangor to travel by coach to Pen-y-Pas, news started to filter through to us from our event team who were attempting to put up a tent in the car park with no success that Hurricane Gordon was a real threat. On arrival the mountain rescue team advised us that the level of danger if we set foot on the mountain was severe. So instead of climbing the highest mountain in Wales we took everyone to Caernarfon Castle car park with our team from mountain rescue who accompanied everyone on a 12 mile route without a mountain to be seen! Not ideal by any means and normally a route would be found that would involve some climbing but safety had to be the most important consideration. The atmosphere on the train was decidedly despondent as everyone tried to get some rest. We had one unscheduled stop to allow the student who had boarded the train in Bangor thinking it was the Virgin service to London to get off. He was very reluctant to leave, having heard talk of masseuses on board! Spirits picked up as we headed north, partly thanks to the enormous breakfast baps we were given. The sun came out, the sky was blue and, best of all, the wind had died down. On arrival at Ravenglass the wonderful Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway was waiting for us to transport us to Dalegarth to start the very difficult climb of Scafell Pike. Railway Children's ascent of the mountain is made that much harder by including a 4 mile walk from Dalegarth to Brackenclose at the bottom of the mountain. We do this for environmental reasons to keep mini buses off the roads for at least one leg of the journey. However the environment is probably not top of the agenda when you have walked 2 hours and not even started to climb this very difficult mountain. Conditions were perfect and it was wonderful to hear people on the radio reaching the summit. At last a mountain was being climbed! Someone from every team succeeded in reaching the top. And thankfully we even had time for light refreshments in the Ratty Arms before departing for Scotland. Our wonderful band of doctors, Jo, Stephen and Jamie, set up a surgery on the train and tended to blisters, strains, aches and pains. The three girls from Virgin Atlantic who were offering back, shoulder and neck massages for £5 with all money going to Railway Children, were delighted to be in demand at long last. At last, an opportunity to get a few hours sleep before the next mountain. Bodies could be seen everywhere, in the aisle, luggage areas, all over the place! When we were woken at 3:30am by Nick announcing breakfast was about to be served, I think most of us were wondering why we were doing this!! 200 very tired people got off the train and headed for the coaches to take us to Glen Nevis. The forecast was good with no rain expected. However it was raining when we arrived – but that's Scotland for you! The weather soon cleared and yet again every team managed to get to the top, though not always with all members of the team. The lovely Billy, our man from St Andrews Ambulance at Ben Nevis, had a busy time tending to lots of injuries. Billy is desperate to join us on the train home next year for a wee dram. How he'll get back again I don't know but I think he feels he is missing out on a good party! Time is very tight at Ben Nevis and we managed to get everyone back on the train, though we did have to send our mountain manager, John, to the youth hostel to pick up a couple of people from there to save a bit of time. Unfortunately we had to leave without finding out how our one casualty was doing. John Till had to come down the mountain with chest pains and our doctor, Jo, took the wise decision to get him to hospital. However after a few tests he was discharged and is absolutely fine and we look forward to having him on board next year to get to the top of all those mountains. Despite the fact that only two of our three mountains had been climbed and the event had started with a surreal walk from Caernarfon, the atmosphere on the train going home was fantastic, probably helped by the very large stock of alcohol being served by our amazing on board team. The all important prizes were given out, not for the quickest up the mountains but for the highest sponsorship total. For each and every person taking part, they are achieving a fantastic personal challenge and whether they reached the top or not they did their very best. Unfortunately some were defeated by injury and we were delighted to give the top prize to Lesley and her team, the Mad Marketing Mountaineers from First Great Western. Lesley was incredibly disappointed when she couldn't climb Ben Nevis because of an injury but she did something even more amazing. Her team raised an incredible £7,000. Well done to all of you! There was a group of people on the train who worked tirelessly throughout the journey – the Virgin on board team. They served endless cups of tea and coffee, fantastic carbohydrate packed meals, provided sandwiches, chocolate and fruit for the mountains, huge breakfast baps, lots of water, including hot water for flasks, and just kept smiling throughout. They had all volunteered for this trip and were not getting paid so we had a whip round to show them our appreciation. £483 was collected and these wonderful people donated it all to Railway Children. The event has raised an incredible amount of money. Last year we raised £132,000 (naughty people who tried to get me to tell them that on the train knowing it was the last question in our on board quiz!). This year we will have smashed that. The sponsorship raised is currently estimated to be £150,000. There is more to be added thanks to these lovely people: Adrian Bullock who produced a souvenir sheet and sold it making £65. The Coach A Curry Club who had friends in the right places and gave us £40 left over from their funds for getting curry delivered at Preston. Tim Brawn who organised the quiz that both entertained and raised £180. The masseuses from Virgin Atlantic who raised £600 – that's a lot of massages! The bar that raised over £1,000. It's was one of the best events we've ever had – the team spirit and camaraderie was superb and this is thanks to everyone on board that very special train – the climbers and the event team. And well done to Team Wembley (Michael Lewis, Lynne Garner, Martin Pegg and John Nixon, Network Rail) and Simon Temple from Faber Maunsell who went back to Snowdon after the event and reached the summit! Here's proof from Team Wembley. THANK YOUS! The event would not take place if it were not for the many sponsors who support it. It also means that most of the hard-earned money you have raised goes where it is needed – to the children. Network Rail - the track access and sponsoring the mountain managers. EWS - the train and the crew. Virgin Trains - the on board crew and all the food and drink. Fraser Eagle - the bus transfers. Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway - the wonderful journey from Ravenglass. We are in danger of sounding like an Oscar acceptance speech BUT there are lots of people who make the event happen and it is a success thanks to their hard work and dedication: Robin Gisby – who had the idea in the first place! Nick Hebborn – our Virgin train manager who did all the hard work in making sure we were all fed and watered. Nick's job was enormous – he persuaded the suppliers to donate the food and drink and co-ordinated the on board service. The Virgin on board team – Ian Joesbury, Sarah Harden, Dave Hill, Simon Bennings, Simon Davies, Gary Hall, Adrian Bullock, June Bullock, Eoin Brunton, Paula Durrans, Ade Nankivell, Neil Larry. – who remained cheerful throughout. Steve Aldridge, EWS – not only did he come to our meetings, he also took part! Roger Cox, Mike Woolley, EWS – the train managers who kept everything running smoothly. The fantastic team of event crew – Iona Wakeley, Cara Stimson, Sam Dixon, Tim Brawn and Wayne Underwood. Global Challenge UK – Graham, Vanessa, Libby, Glynn, Adrian and Keith – who kept us safe on the mountains. Our mountain managers who were there to help with any problems – Dave Ellis, Bridget Eickhof, John Mathieson. Laura Taylor, Wendy Brawn, David Lennox and Gill Dyal who co-ordinated check-in. Our team of Virgin Atlantic masseuses, Georgia, Jo and Erica who are used to much better conditions but happily looked after our well-being. The doctors – Jo Munden, Stephen Daykin and Jamie Dalrymple – who spent most of the journey looking at blistered feet! The mountain rescue teams who reassuringly watched over us on the mountains. THANK YOU! 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