STARTING at 5am on Wednesday September 18 Stephen Oleksewycz will climb Snowdon eight times, Scafell Pike nine times and Ben Nevis seven times - all in a week.
"It’s going to be tough but, no matter what, I will complete this challenge," he says.
"I have had a very tough 12 months - last August I was sent to prison for business mistakes I made seven years ago. I was released in March and wanted to aim towards doing something which has never been done before and in the process raise some funds and awareness for the amazing Naomi Cheri Gough Foundation."
Based in Brighouse, the Naomi Cheri Gough Foundation is a charity founded in 2016 in loving memory of Bev and Steve Gough’s daughter Naomi, who tragically lost her life due to a road traffic collision.
"With three children of my own, I can see how valuable the work of this charity is," Stephen adds.
Its website sums up its aim: ‘To lose a child/dependant under 25 years of age is unimaginable. Quite often insurance is not in place for the sudden and unexpected expense, no parent is prepared. We help lift that burden, give much needed support to families and provide education in schools and businesses on the consequences of irresponsible driving,’
Says Stephen: "My challenge is crazy - people struggle to do the three national peaks once over a weekend. I already have a taste of the pain to come as I completed nine summits of Scafell Pike in 2022 for the Ukraine crisis, as my grandparents are Ukrainian.
"The feat will symbolise the end of a nightmare for me personally but also the start of new beginnings, while at the same time hopefully raising some much needed funds for the charity.
"Recently, after two days of very intense training, twice up Snowdon and scaling Scafell Pike, three times, it's solidified in my mind that I will smash the feat I have set myself. This has never ever been done before and I can see why.
"My training includes Scammonden Steps - 458 steps that are part of a 5.3km circular trail near Marsden. Recently, I scaled them 30 times in one session - that was intense, my legs went afterwards.
"No doubt about it, I will be taken to the brink, but that's life and this will be completed no matter what. This challenge is about overcoming my own Mount Everest of a year so when I complete the final summit on Ben Nevis it will be a line in the sand for me."
He adds: "Please check out my just giving page link below as I want to raise as much for these guys as possible and make the pain worthwhile. I still have a lot of training to do but I am getting closer.
"Here is my JustGiving site. Any donations are much appreciated." https://www.justgiving.com/page/everest3nationalpeaks2024-1720534795332
; also visit naomicherigoughfoundation.org.uk
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