RSK ENSR Group Climb 24 Lake District Peaks in 24 Hours for Charity

September 9

A team from Helsby-based RSK ENSR Group has completed the CARE 24 Peaks Challenge – climbing 24 of the Lake District’s highest peaks inside 24 hours and raising £6,000 for charity.

The sheer physicality of the event (a cumulative ascent of 4,054m) meant that several of team were forced to withdraw, leaving only 3 remaining walkers to endure what was to become a brutal endurance test. This was particularly true for Environmental Consultant and former mountain guide, Oliver Townsend, who only three weeks previously had been given the all-clear following radiotherapy for testicular cancer.

Despite his recent treatment, Mr. Townsend, in a throwback to his mountaineering career, was determined to carry surplus equipment for his team-members in case vital supplies ran out. As the strain began to show he reluctantly relinquished items from his backpack.

“It’s a very strange feeling, knowing that only 12 months before I was at the peak of my physical fitness, able to walk to for days carrying heavy packs over difficult ground, always managing to be the helper rather than the helpee,” he said. Keeping the 24-hour target at the back of their minds the team pushed on in dramatic fashion – at one point losing their radio and only means of contact with the emergency services.

With only four minutes to spare they crossed the finish line.

“For most ‘normal’ walkers all of these peaks might take two weeks – we had to do them in just 24 hours. This meant mammoth amounts of stamina and commitment and a healthy dollop of good luck,” said Mr. Townsend.

Director Sue Slijivic remarked:

“This might not be the easiest of team building exercises, but I have gained fresh insight into the strengths and weaknesses of a great team of people.

“I am still struggling with the knowledge that I was the oldest person in our team to complete the course by about 10 years. There is life in the old dog yet!”

Note to Editors

RSK ENSR – one the UK’s most qualified and experienced health, safety and environmental consultants – works across the energy, property, water, manufacturing, government, and transport sectors. With almost 300 staff throughout 12 strategic locations in the UK and with rapidly expanding operations in Europe, The Gulf and Caspian regions, RSK ENSR aims to provide global expertise on every client’s doorstep.
For more information, please contact Sue Sljivic, RSK ENSR director, on ssljivic@rskensr.com, or 01928 726 006.

About CARE International:
CARE International is an international relief and development agency working with impoverished communities in about 70 countries worldwide, reaching more than 45 million people every year. CARE programmes promote positive and lasting change and avoid long-term dependency. CARE also provides emergency relief to survivors of natural disasters, wars and conflicts, including those affected by food shortages in Niger and sub-Saharan Africa, and the devastating tsunami in South-East Asia. For more information, visit www.careinternational.org.uk.