Journal Features
John rises to triple climbing challenge
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| Chris Saltrick, John Hayward and Andrew Donald at the summit of Ben Nevis. |
IN certain cultures, three is a magic number. Certainly, the number has played a powerful part in the recent activities of retired Damerham farmer John Hayward.
At the age of 72, he donned stout shoes and
weatherproof clothes and took on the Three Peaks Challenge last month, climbing Snowdon in Wales, Scafell Pike in the Lake District and Ben Nevis in the Highlands of Scotland in rapid succession.
Behind most people tackling the Three Peaks is a support network including drivers, but John was joined by just two others.
Armed with plenty of enthusiasm and very little mountaineering experience, they headed for Wales.
But John says he is a fairly determined sort of chap.
"If I decide to do something, there's no possibility of me not doing it," he says firmly.
"I had tried to get in with two other groups earlier, but they had been cancelled.
"The two boys who came with me were neighbours."
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| Sue Kelly with her grandsons Jack and Ben. DB1635P1 |
The "boys" in question were 38-year-old Andrew Donald, a partner in Woolley and Wallis, and
50-year-old chartered accountant Chris Saltrick.
Both men keep fit, but most of their sporting
activities have, hitherto, been restricted to relatively flat terrain as keen cyclists and runners.
But according to John, a casual invitation to head for the heights of the UK's top peaks was snapped up.
"They do a lot of things such as marathons and cycle rides for charity," says John.
"I certainly hadn't done anything like it before and without the pace they set, I would never have done it in the time."
But all three, especially John, were spurred on by the incentive of raising money which could help three very special youngsters, as well as other children like them.
John's original goal had been to undertake a physical challenge which would raise money and awareness for myotonic dystrophy.
This rare congenital muscle-wasting condition, which also causes painful muscle contractions, affects both the grandsons of his friend and Rockbourne neighbour, Sue Kelly.
Mrs Kelly has been fighting to raise awareness of the condition, which is the subject of research at Nottingham University, since grandsons Jack and Ben, who both live in America, were diagnosed with the
condition, for which there is currently no cure.
While she has endeavoured to raise huge amounts of cash - more than £40,000 to date - to help the research, she has also been anxious to raise awareness of the
condition, which is inherited, among GPs and potential
parents.
"I am fortunate to have good health and have always kept
reasonably fit and I wanted to do something useful," says John.
"But after I started this, my two-year-old grandson was
diagnosed with a rare form of cancer."
The toddler is currently undergoing treatment at Southampton General Hospital, and the Piam-Brown children's ward there will also benefit from the money raised.
John had hoped to embark on the challenge earlier in the year when lengthier summer days would have made completing the climbs within the prescribed 24 hours a greater possibility.
Although only roughly half this time is likely to be spent on the mountains, time is allowed for driving the estimated 450 miles between the locations.
As it was, the designated day for the start of the challenge scaling Snowdon's 1055 metres started determinedly grey and dull.
"We arrived at Snowdon at 6.30am and starting climbing in fog and drizzle," says John.
"About half-way, we came out of the fog, climbed to the top and then descended as rapidly as we could." A hasty bacon sandwich in a nearby café provided sustenance before, still soaking wet, the trio motored to Scafell Pike and started the 970m ascent on the Wasdale side, which is the steepest and most difficult option but, ultimately, the quickest.
By the time they had returned to the car and were on their way to Ben Nevis, the light was already gone.
"We decided we didn't want to climb it in the dark, and
hadn't eaten properly all day, so we stopped for a square meal and booked into a B&B."
Up again at 4.15am the following day, the trio made the ascent to Ben Nevis's 1340m summit as dawn broke.
"The top of Ben Nevis was freezing cold - there was an icy blast of wind and most people were absolutely shrammed up there.
"But you could see how beautiful it would be on a sunny day."
Although the lack of daylight hours meant they had exceeded the 24 hours, John is delighted they completed the actual climbs - 27 miles of ascent and descent - in 11 hours and 25 minutes.
While Chris and Andrew rushed away to make a flight home, John's wife, Chloe, flew up to join him and the couple spent a few days in a remote part of the Highlands before the return to Western Downland.
So far, £7000 has poured in.
"People have been very generous," says John.
"The whole idea was to do something difficult - you get a sense of satisfaction and I don't think too many 72-year-olds take on this sort of thing."
There is also talk of another project to raise money for the Piam-Brown ward, but this will be very much a family affair.
"We're talking of a family mountain-climbing adventure with three generations of the family - me, my son-in-law and three of my teenage grandsons, but I want it to be fun, not something we have to do in record time."
He might also rethink the strategy of travelling from peak to peak.
"The worst part (of the challenge) was being crammed up in a car when you are wet and have just struggled up and down a hill," he says.
Anyone wishing to make a contribution to John's fundraising can contact him by emailing jadhayward@talktalk.net.
9:52am Thursday 8th November 2007
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