After months of training, determination and a very early morning start, our incredible Welsh 3000s team has completed one of the UK’s toughest mountain challenges – all to help give rescued animals a brighter future.
This week, Wildheart Animal Sanctuary CEO Lawrence Bates was joined by Mary Lenton, Sandra Digby and Charlie Panayi as they set out to conquer the legendary Welsh 3000s – a gruelling challenge that involves summiting all 15 of Wales’ mountains over 3,000ft.
The team faced soaring temperatures, relentless climbs and unforgiving mountain terrain throughout the day. Together they completed the first two legs of the challenge, spending more than 15 hours on the mountains, reaching 10 of the 15 peaks and climbing more than 9,000ft before injury and fatigue forced Mary, Sandra and Charlie to make the difficult decision to end their challenge.
While their journey finished there, their achievement was nothing short of extraordinary. Every mile they covered and every peak they conquered helped raise awareness and vital funds for the hundreds of rescued animals who call Wildheart Animal Sanctuary home.
One final push
Determined to complete the challenge, Lawrence pressed on alone into the night.
Battling physical exhaustion, aching muscles and feet covered in blisters, he tackled the final five peaks, eventually reaching the 15th summit just before midnight. But there was one final surprise waiting for him – the finish line wasn’t quite where he expected. Instead of celebrating immediately, he still had another two-hour walk out of the mountains before the epic adventure finally came to an end.
🥾 Approximately 32 miles of hiking
⏰ 19 hours on the mountains
🏔️ 13,750ft of ascent – plus the same amount of descent
“One of the toughest challenges I’ve ever faced”
“This was without doubt one of the toughest physical and mental challenges I’ve ever faced. The heat made every climb harder than we could have imagined, and by the final leg I was running almost entirely on determination. Mary, Sandra and Charlie gave absolutely everything over the first two legs and should be incredibly proud of what they achieved. Completing all 15 peaks was only possible because of the incredible team spirit and support we shared throughout the challenge.”
The Welsh 3000s is widely regarded as one of Britain’s most demanding mountain challenges, requiring participants to tackle all 15 of Wales’ highest mountains in one continuous journey across Snowdonia.
Why we took on the challenge
As an independent charity, Wildheart Animal Sanctuary relies on the generosity of supporters to provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals from around the world. Every pound raised through challenges like this helps provide food, veterinary care, enrichment and safe, forever homes for animals that have suffered neglect, abuse or exploitation.
Although the mountains have been conquered, the fundraising continues.
The team set themselves a target of raising £3,000, and they’re asking supporters to help push them over the finish line.
“Reaching that final summit felt incredible, but knowing every donation will help transform the lives of rescued animals makes every step worthwhile. If you’ve been following our journey, we’d be hugely grateful if you could help us reach our fundraising target.”
Help us reach our £3,000 target
If you’ve been inspired by the team’s incredible effort, please consider making a donation. Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a real difference to the rescued animals in our care.
Donate: https://wildheartanimalsanctuary.enthuse.com/pf/team-wildheart-welsh-3000s
Thank you to everyone who has supported the team, donated, shared our updates and cheered them on throughout this incredible adventure. Together, you’re helping give rescued animals the second chance they deserve.
