A WOKINGHAM resident has expressed his desire to finish a fundraising effort he was unable to finish.
Taking on the daunting Three Peaks challenge this weekend, Mark Summers and friend Paul Cowan were forced to abort their attempt due to dangerous weather.
The pair had completed two of the three peaks when they had to stop.
Mark said: “It’s a real mixture of emotions. The past few days have been a rollercoaster.”
The Three Peaks challenge requires participants to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowden, negotiating an ascent of 3064 metres.
After completing the first two climbs and descents, the pair were faced with weather warnings as gales and poor visibility put paid to their chances of completing the route.
Mark, whose wife Jeannine has multiple sclerosis (MS), was raising money for Berkshire MS Therapy Centre.
He explained: “My wife kept reminding me I’m 57-years-old, and I promised I wouldn’t take any risks.
“Paul and I made an agreement that if one of us couldn’t go on, we would stop together.
“I’m very disappointed. We worked well together, and Ken, who drove us, was amazing too.”
Despite the set-back, Mark said he is more motivated than ever to complete the challenge, believing the extra time will allow the pair to regain their fitness.
It will also allow his childhood best friend, Ken Critcher, who was unable to take part this time around due to injury, to join them.
He explained: “We haven’t failed, the challenge is not dead. The first opportunity we get, we will be climbing [Snowden].
“If anything, I’m more determined to do it. Not for me, but for everyone at the MS centre, it’s them we’re doing it for.”
Through his JustGiving page, Mark has raised almost £2,000 so far. The page will remain open until the challenge is fully completed.
All funds raised go towards the running of the MS centre, whose operating costs are £470,000 per year.
Mark moved to Wokingham three weeks before the first Covid-19 lockdown.
He has described the town as ‘unfriendly to disabled people’, saying he and his wife have to plan routes to get around safely.
He said: “I love my wife so much, it hurts me to see her in constant pain, or when it’s hot because hot weather has a horrible effect on people with MS. She wasn’t enjoying the hot summer.
“You have to live with it, or live with someone who lives with it, to fully understand.”
“I wish I could take a bit of that struggle away from her.”
Through his efforts, he wants to raise awareness of the struggles faced by people with disabilities.
Mark believes that people can make small adjustments, such as looking where they’re going or leaving enough room for wheelchair users when walking in large groups, to make a big difference in the lives of others.
