Writtle College governor Paul Downer is climbing the UK’s three highest peaks – and cycling the 427 miles between them all – in just six days.
Paul, 46-year-old Managing Director of West Bergholt based landscape contracting company Oak View Landscapes Limited, is undertaking the feat of endurance with a team of 15 landscapers and industry colleagues from across the south and east of England. They hope to raise £20,000 for Perennial, the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Society.
The team travel to Fort William on the 5 September and the challenge starts the following day when they will climb Ben Nevis and cycle 18 miles to Ballachulish. They will then cycle 122 miles on day two, 114 miles on day three, climb Scafell Pike and cycle the 23 miles to Grasmere on day four, ride 100 miles on day five and finish off the feat with cycling 50 miles and climbing Snowdon on the final day!
Paul, a governor of Writtle College since 2008, explained his gruelling training schedule: “I have been in training since March working to a programme supplied by our organisers, Mountain and Glen. Basically this has involved two gym sessions a week and two or three cycle rides a week at up to 75 miles. I have been training with my 15-year-old son James and last month we completed a 20 mile climb in the Cairngorms in seven hours as I can’t just concentrate only on cycling!
“This is going to be an immense challenge as it will be six continuous days with little time for recovery. My training has gone well but I have long standing knee injuries which are troublesome but Perennial is such a worthy cause there was no way I would turn down the opportunity to support this horticulture industry charity.”
To find out more and to sponsor Paul and the team, visit http://www.justgiving.com/3PeaksExtreme.
