London
Bus drivers conquer Three Peaks challenge
85mph winds, wind-chill temperatures of -11°C, snow and hail, it was all in a days work for a team of 12 London bus drivers who are raising money for the 'Help for Heroes' charity.
Having battled their way through a gruelling selection programme to be chosen for the cancelled London2012 'Bus to Beijing' project, a spot of British 'summer' weather wasn't going to stop them in their attempt to climb the highest peak in Scotland, England and Wales in under 24 hours.
Known as the 3-Peaks Challenge, this event is tough enough for the teams who use hired vans to race between each mountain at 80mph, but to negotiate a London double-decker bus along the 450 mile route added yet another dimension.
Setting off from the foot of Ben Nevis at 5pm on Friday 20th June, the determined team from 6 different bus companies in London started the long climb to the top of the UK's highest mountain at 4,400 feet.
Going down was as hard as going up, with knees taking the punishment of each and every step on the rocky mountain track.
The weather on Scafell was kinder than Ben Nevis, but Snowdon was to make up for that. A storm was brewing as they scrambled their way to the top and by the time they reached the summit, they were in the full force of 85mph winds, torrential rain and hailstones slamming into them sideways.
By 11:00pm on Saturday 21st June, some 30 hours after starting, they arrived back at the bus cold, wet and exhausted, but proud of what they had achieved.
The event was in aid of the 'Help for Heroes' charity and although the team only decided to undertake this challenge on 7th June, they have already raised £21,000, with the ultimate aim of reaching £40,000. Managing Directors from some of the London bus companies have already pledged their support, with First making a donation of £5,000.
John Hickey from First's Dagenham depot was the oldest in the team, at 59, and, amazingly, he completed Ben Nevis wearing a kilt! He said:
'When the Beijing expedition was cancelled the twelve of us decided that we wanted to do something worthwhile together as a team. Many of our instructors for the Beijing training were ex military and this was part of the reason we chose Help for Heroes as our charity.
The challenge was even tougher than I expected, with snow and a wind chill factor of -11 on Ben Nevis, but it was very rewarding.'
The drivers were led by Mac Mackenney, from the expedition company Max Adventure, who was originally tasked with leading the team to Beijing. Mac was the right-hand man to Sir Ranulph Fiennes on his last North Pole expedition.
They still need people to sponsor them - the best way being via their Justgiving site: www.justgiving.com/theroutemasters
PHOTO CAPTION: Adrian Jones, Managing Director, First, London and Berkshire, presents John Hickey (in the kilt) with a cheque for £5,000 sponsorship from First.
