Stephen Oleksewycz raises thousands for charity in epic feat

After a tough time in his life, Stephen Oleksewycz set himself a challenge: to climb Britain’s highest mountains - scaling each one enough times to reach the height of Mount Everest, more than 29,000ft.

That meant climbing Snowdon eight times, Scafell Pike nine times and Ben Nevis seven times - all in little more than a week. And he did it, raising more than £3700 for his chosen charity, the Brighouse-based Naomi Cheri Gough Foundation.

“I know Naomi’s mum Bev well and over the years I always said to her that I would do something for her if I got the chance," he says. "This was the chance and I'm proud to have so far raised awareness and funds for this incredible cause.”

Stephen summits Ben Nevis for a fifth time

The eighth time up Snowdon The hardest of the three mountains was Ben Nevis, he says. “It was the first one and I knew I had so many peaks to follow.

"I summited Ben Nevis seven times which was 9,450 metres over the height of Everest. Then Scafell Pike took my soul as I was so sore from the Ben Nevis leg and I knew I had to summit it nine times - people really struggle with just one.

“I met so many amazing people throughout who pushed me on. Many were doing the National Three Peaks Challenge which is just one summit of each mountain in 24 hours. They were in disbelief as to what I was doing.

Going up Snowdon for the fifth time in a row, he felt as though he was "towing a truck". The soles of his shoes quickly wore down due to the constant wear and tear being placed upon them.

“I just kept grinding on with the end goal in mind and the view of never ever giving up. The worst moments were in the mornings where I could hardly move from the 15 hours climbing the day before. But I pushed myself up and once I got going I was in the right mindset again.

"I did three times the height of Mount Everest in eight days - one day over my target but the weather beat us.”

It was a beautiful day for Stephen's eighth ascent of Scafell Pike The sun also shone as he climbed Scafell Pike for the fifth timeHe found inspiration in each trek. “The views were amazing and I did so much personal healing on those mountains especially whilst alone in the pitch dark on the evening and early morning climbs.”

Stephen describes the challenge as “crazy,” but something he was determined to fulfil.

“It’s something I set myself after being unexpectedly sent to prison in August 2023 for business mistakes I made in 2016,” he says. “I made the mistakes and have owned up to that and was sorry, but being sent to prison took my whole life from me in an instant. I had two options - to crumble or rise and at the same time do positive things.

“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."

Founded in 2016 the Brighouse-based charity was set up in memory of Bev and Steve Gough’s daughter Naomi, who tragically lost her life due to a road traffic collision.

Snowdon. Picture: Adam Williams The worn soles of one of Stephen's shoes

Stephen was determined to achieve his goal. On occasion, he described ascending the mountain as feeling

“The time up and down was similar on each mountain about three to four hours up and down. Towards the end Ben Nevis was taking five hours. The only time I had proper breaks was to sleep at the end of around 15 hours for five to six hours then up again in morning to attack again. The challenge was very difficult mentally and physically.”

He is thrilled to have achieved his goal. “I feel elated and very, very emotional as it has been such a difficult 12 months. I knew reaching the last summit was such a big thing for me and the start of the rest of my life again, but also it meant we had created much needed awareness for the charity and much needed funds.

Stephen posted on Facebook at the time: 'Approaching the final summit Snowdon!

Emotions on levels never before experienced'.

After completing his mammoth feat he relished being back home in West Yorkshire: “After sleeping in tents all week it was so nice to get home and have a hot bath," he says.

“I have recovered well and after a week I was doing 5k runs again. I'm fitter now at 40 then when I was 20.”

His supportive family were elated and thrilled that he had achieved his goal. “Everyone was proud but most of all my kids - I also did this for them, to prove that no matter what happens in life we can always get back up and move forward in a positive way.”

*To help add to Stephen’s total funds raised for the Naomi Cherry Gough Foundation visit justgiving.com/page/everest3nationalpeaks2024.