sets his sights on Britain's highest peaks

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sets his sights on Britain's highest peaks

http://www.buchanie.co.uk/archived/2006/week_24/news/hillclimb.asp

A PETERHEAD man is to climb the UK's three highest mountains in 24 hours to

raise money for an arthritis charity that helped his two-year-old daughter

after she was diagnosed with the condition.

Simpson, of Kinmundy Gardens, hopes that by climbing the three highest

summits in the country he can give something back to the Arthritis Research

Campaign (ARC) after they helped his family when his daughter was diagnosed

with the juvenile form of the disease.

The enduring challenge will see climb a total of 6,182 metres and

travel 494 miles - all in 24 hours.

However, he isn't daunted by the challenge and told the Buchan Observer:

" There are 18 of us all together doing this event, so we will be able to

help each other out a bit.

" The current world record for the challenge is 19 hours - so for relative

novices like us to do it in 24 hours is quite a challenge, but we are

confident.

" There is four-and-a-half hours' journey time between each mountain so we

will have time to recover! "

revealed the reason behind his challenge is to raise money for a

charity which he holds close to his heart. His two-year-old daughter was

diagnosed with juvenile arthritis last year, and ARC gave and his

family a lot of support.

He added: " ARC were fantastic and they really helped the family find out

about the condition and how to live with it.

" Juvenile arthritis takes effect the same as it would in adults, however a

child can not tell you what is sore. I am glad that I have found a way to

give something back to the charity. "

The 31-year-old offshore worker will rise to the challenge on June 28,

starting at Ben Nevis, near Fort .

Once he has scaled the 1,344 metre peak, he will head to Cumbria to conquer

Mount Scaffells (977 metres) before travelling to Wales to climb 1,055 metre

Mount Snowden - all in the same day.

He feels each mountain will be equally as challenging, adding: " Mount

Scaffells is the smallest, but in many ways it will be the hardest because

it isn't climbed as much, therefore it will have rougher terrain. "

All of the 18 men taking part in the gruelling even work for Shell on the

Anasuria Platform.

says it has been tricky combining on and offshore training but hopes to

scale all three mountains before setting off for the gruelling charity

challenge.

He continued: " I keep fit offshore, but you can't substitute climbing

mountains! I have the next few weeks off so I hope I can get a decent build

up and hopefully I will be in top shape come the end of the month. "

Arthritis Research Campaign raises funds to promote medical research into

the cause, treatment and cure of arthritic conditions.

They also raise money to educate medical students, doctors and allied

healthcare professionals about arthritis and to provide information to

people affected by the condition and to the general public. is looking

for sponsors, and details of his quest can be viewed at

www.justgiving.com/simpson3peaks

where donations can also be made. Sponsor forms are also available at

Clerkhill Pharmacy.