Please support this intrepid team of ex-rugby players.

They are to take up the challenge to climb BEN NEVIS SCAFELL PIKE and SNOWDON all in 24 hours – 6-7th July 2002 in memory of CHRISTIAAN SMITH

Three Peak challenge completed – fighting the elements to raise funds

Never mind the cool and damp Welsh summer we’ve been putting up with – a group of intrepid fundraisers have battled through force 10 gales and snow – and they never left the UK.

To complete the three peaks challenge the nine men conquered three mountains in just 23 hours and 30 minutes to raise money in aid of the charity CRY, Cardiac Risk in the Young.

They encountered, sleet and snow at the top of Ben Nevis in Scotland and gale force winds on Snowdon.

The third mountain, Scafell Pike was no picnic either, when the party split up by mistake in the gloom and had to scramble over rocks when the footpath vanished.

But so far they have raised more than £8000 for their efforts, and the cash is still flowing in.

Former rugby stars Robert Jones and Anthony Clement were part of the team, which trained hard to the event beforehand. They were in peak condition.

Team member Steve Rees said: “It was the most horrendous thing any of us had ever done. The elements were against us and by the time we finished we had gone 40 hours without sleep.

“But it was worth it, and we’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who sponsored us.”

The other six members of the team were Anthony’s brother Mike, Dave Cox, Rob Davies, Jonathan Mason, Andrew Thomas and Rob Williams.

The challenge was done in memory of Christiaan Smith, from Clydach, who died from a hidden heart complaint.

His mother Paulette Smith is the area representative of CRY, which campaigns for children to be screened.