A firefighter from East Lancashire will be taking on a mammoth challenge for a charity that helped with her mental health issues.
Firefighters Darcy Williams, from Great Harwood, and friend Kelly McHugh, from Blackburn, are planning to take on the ‘three peaks challenge’ in September.
Considered one of Britain’s toughest outdoor challenges, the challenge will see Darcy and Kelly attempt to climb Ben Nevis, which is 1,344 meters tall, Scafell Pike, around 978 meters tall and Snowdon, 1,085 meters tall, over the course of three days.
Darcy, 27, said she has always wanted to take on the three peaks and is nervous but excited to get started.
She said: “We’ve already climbed Snowdon in the past with family and friends but I have always wanted to do the three peaks.
“I am very nervous about the challenge and asking myself what I am doing.
“We are looking forward to doing the challenge. Kelly keeps ringing me up and asking me what I have dragged her into but I think she secretly loves it really.
“We are looking forward to doing it and we hope the weather will be on our side.”
Training for the challenge has already started with strength training and hill walks.
Darcy said: “Kelly and I will be meeting up over the coming months and practicing walking up smaller hills such as Pendle, to strengthen our leg muscles.”
Over the course of the three days, the duo are expected to trek around 26 miles and ascend to a total height of almost 3,000 meters.
The challenge will kick off on Friday, September 1, when Darcy and Kelly, based at Fulwood and Preston fire station respectively, will set off from Fort William to climb Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles.
On Saturday (September 2) they will head down to Scafell Pike in the Lake District and Sunday will see them attempt to scale Snowdon.
Kelly and Darcy are hoping to raise as much money as possible for The Fire Fighter Charity, a charity that helps members of the UK's fire services community to live healthier and happier lives.
Darcy said the charity helped with her mental health issues in the past with a mental wellbeing workshop called the hope programme.
She said: The charity has helped me personally when I was going through a tough time with stress and depression earlier this year.
“It was a six week course and it came at a great time for me. I took a week off work with stress as I was moving house which was really affecting me and giving me anxiety
“Each week covered different topics like: managing stress, feeling grateful, coping with fatigue and practicing mindfulness.
"It really helped me during that time, especially the week that focused on gratitude, as it reminded me to focus on the positives."
“I have seen first-hand how it has helped others in the industry.
“They don’t just help you they also help your family if needed.
“This three peaks challenge itself will do my mental health the world of good, as I will be getting out in the fresh air and doing something for a good cause.”
Kelly said: “On a daily basis I see just how hard people work in the fire service. This is a fantastic charity that I love to raise money for.
"Last year, I took on the challenge to walk 100km in five days across the Sahara Desert and absolutely loved it. I am looking forward to taking on a new and tougher challenge this year to really push myself.”
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