The Association's OUSET Fundraiser, Gemma Church, gives us a personal account of the OUSET Three Yorkshire Peaks Challenge 2024, which saw nine members of the Association family take on this daunting feat on Saturday 31 August.
All nine challengers arrived at the pre-arranged accommodation, Dales Lodge, on Friday 30 August, just a two mile walk from the challenge starting point. This was where we met with our guide Craig from Saaig Outdoors for a debriefing session ahead of the challenge the next day. The challenge team then made sure hiking backpacks were packed, stomachs were full and alarms were set, ready to set off the following morning on the OUSET Three Yorkshire Peaks Challenge!
At 7:30am on Saturday 31 August 2024, the team started the challenge walk in beautiful conditions of blue skies, warm sun and enough breeze to keep the midges at bay – first tackling the 723 metre peak of Ingleborough. Everyone made it to the summit, where following a quick photo, they set off happily hiking towards the second challenge peak, Pen-y-ghent. En route, we had our first support van checkpoint, in which we were able to use public toilets, have lunch, and top up our water bottles and snacks from the support vehicle supplies.
Around midday, the team started their way up the second peak of Pen-y-ghent, ascending 694 metres, including a slight rock scramble over the ridge to the top. Everyone made it to the summit with a smile on their face as the sun shone all around, showing off the stunning Yorkshire Dales views.
Following a brief rest, in which one of our team even managed to enjoy a quick cuppa, we took another quick group photo before setting off again. The team embarked down Pen-y-ghent, hiking the longest flat section of the walk towards our second support vehicle checkpoint, and the final peak.
Once all nine of the team arrived at the support vehicle checkpoint, three of our participants chose to end their adventure, being happy with the 18 miles of adventure and two peaks they had achieved. They were then taken back to Dales Lodge by our support vehicle, whilst the remaining six challengers commenced the hour walk to the bottom of our last climb – peak three – Whernside.
All six remaining challengers completed the final ascent of 736 metres and made it to the summit, where we were delighted to find the support vehicle driver Sam from Saaig Outdoors. She had hiked up the back side of the peak to surprise us with some welcome extra layers and buttered Soreen loaf, as well as a big congratulations on our efforts.
As the sun began to set and the temperatures started to fall, we took the final summit photo and descended towards the challenge finish point. We were able to double the walking pace and got up and down Whernside within three hours.We made it to the finish point around 9pm, completing the challenge within 13 hours 30 mins. The support vehicle then loaded us up, and took everyone back to Dales Lodge.
Back at Dales Lodge, the challenge team enjoyed warm showers, followed by a takeaway dinner from the local village. Following this, I thanked everyone for their amazing efforts – not only on the challenge but also through the money raised for OUSET, and I was able to announce that the final total raised for OUSET for £2,899.72. I then presented all nine challengers with a bespoke OUSET Three Yorkshire Peaks Challenge 2024 medal, congratulating them again on their amazing achievements!
I also presented our top fundraiser Kathy with a thank you gift for going above and beyond in raising an amazing £681.37 for the charity. Everyone was then able to chill out and chat in the common space provided in Dales Lodge, ahead of a well-earned night's sleep.
The next morning, as we all said our farewells and headed home, everyone in the challenge team mentioned how happy they were with what they had achieved, and how lovely it was to meet and get to know everyone within the challenge team.
We're delighted that we've been able to raise nearly £3,000 for OUSET. All the money raised for this challenge will be used to help an OU Student in financial need to complete their studies, through OUSET’s grant-giving activities.
If you’d like to know more about OUSET, please visit the OUSET section of our website.
