Help for Heroes Events

London Drivers 3 Peaks Challenge

85mph winds, wind-chill temperatures of -11ºC, snow and hail, it was all in a days work for a team of 12 London bus drivers who are raising money for the 'Help for Heroes' charity.

Having battled their way through a gruelling selection programme to be chosen for the cancelled London2012 'Bus to Beijing' project, a spot of British 'summer' weather wasn't going to stop them in their attempt to climb the highest peak in Scotland, England and Wales in under 24 hours.

Known as the 3-Peaks Challenge, this event is tough enough for the teams who use hired vans to race between each mountain at 80mph, but to negotiate a London double-decker bus along the 450 mile route added yet another dimension.



Setting off from the foot of Ben Nevis at 5pm on Friday 20th June, the determined team from 6 different bus companies in London, started the long climb to the top of the UK's highest mountain at 4,400 feet. Snow fell as they reached the summit and it was bitterly cold with wind-chill temperatures as low as -11ºC. Going down was as hard as going up, with knees taking the punishment of each and every step on the rocky mountain track. Using a satellite phone they relayed to the support team that they were approaching the bus, who were on hand to quickly feed them food that comes prepared in plastic bags. The inside of the bus looked like a squat as bodies were strewn all around both decks trying to grab what little sleep they could before the next mountain was reached in the Lake District. Sleeping bags and mats were laid out between the seats and in the isles. The weather on Scafell was kinder to the team, but Snowdon was to make up for that. A storm was brewing as they scrambled their way to the top and by the time they reached the summit, they were in the full force of 85mph winds, torrential rain and hailstones slamming into them sideways. It was no place to be and they had to get off the mountain before exhaustion set in. Hypothermia was a real risk as they battled their way down the mountain track to Llanberis.

By 11:00pm on Saturday 21st June, some 30 hours after starting, they arrived back at the bus cold, wet and exhausted, but proud of what they had achieved. The event was in aid of the 'Help for Heroes' charity and although the team only decided to undertake this challenge on the 7th June 08, they have already raised £21,000, with the ultimate aim of reaching £40,000. Managing Directors from some of the London bus companies have already pledged their support. The drivers were led by Mac Mackenney, from the expedition company Max Adventure, who was originally tasked with leading the team to Beijing. Mac was the right-hand man to Sir Ranulph Fiennes on his last North Pole expedition.

Its never too late to sponsor the drivers - the best way being via their Justgiving site: www.justgiving.com/theroutemasters The Bus Drivers and Companies: Sue Bates - Transdev Wayne Ball - Transdev Paul Bennell - Transdev Deborah Murray - Go Ahead Wayne Ashe - Go Ahead John Hickey - First London Shawn Hurley - East Thames Buses Gagu Keshwala - Metroline Sandro Lobina - Metroline Rafal Biesiadecki - Arriva London Jose Baxter - Arriva London Diane King - Arriva London The bus used to travel between the mountains was a new Scania SP Double Deck, kindly supplied by the Transdev bus company. Other sponsors include Scania with team clothing; Westler Foods with Wayfayrer boil-in-the-bag meals; NSSL with a satellite phone for constant communication on the mountains, Honda with a portable generator to power all our equipment, Lucozade with energy bars and drink and Multimat with sleeping mats for the short rest periods on the bus between each peak. The 3 Peaks challenge took place between 17:00hrs on Friday 20 June 2008 and 23:00hrs on Saturday 21 June 2008. Locations: Ben Nevis, Scottish Highlands Scafell Pike, Lake District Snowdon, Welsh mountains