Hazel completes huge fundraising challenge

While most of us caught up on sleep and household chores at the weekend, Hazel Angus was taking on one of the most difficult physical challenges.

Senior pharmacist Hazel was among a small group of eight people who took on the Three Peaks Challenge – and one of the five who managed to complete it.

“This was probably the toughest challenge I have ever done physically and mentally and I cannot quite believe I have completed it.”

To complete the challenge, those taking part must climb Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in the Lake District and Snowdon in North Wales within 24 hours.

Hazel’s group began their attempt at 8.30am on Saturday morning and reaching the top five hours and 15 minutes later.

They then headed straight to Scafell Pike where their climb began, in the dark, at 8.30pm.

With the help of head torches they completed this section in four hours and headed to North Wales for the third and final challenge.

Hazel says they set off at 5.30am, when it was still dark, and completed the climb three hours and 55 minutes later – 23 hours and 15 minutes after they began and well within time to have smashed the challenge.

She says: “The most difficult bit for me was the last hour of the ascent of Snowdon as I had not slept since starting the challenge, my legs were beginning to rebel.

“The great messages of support I was receiving from friends, family and colleagues kept me going throughout the event  and once reaching the top of Snowdon it was all downhill.”

Hazel explains she wanted to remember 2021 for achievements and not just the COVID pandemic and its impact and has in the past taken part in a number of fundraising events including walking 100 miles of the Great Wall of China and raising £4,000 for breast cancer six years ago.

“When I get older I want to be able to look back on my memories and not wish I had done more while I was fit and able.

Hazel, who is booked to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in March 2022, has already raised £755 for the Garden House Hospice, in Hertfordshire, and you can still donate by visiting her Just Giving page.