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BRAVE CLIMBERS: From left, FUW president Emyr Jones receives a £1,754 cheque for Cancer Research Wales from Aled Jones, John Pughe and Nick Fenwick at last Sunday's Machynlleth Country Fair.[/caption]
Six Dyfi valley friends have braved gale force winds to scale Wales' three highest peaks - Snowdon, Cader Idris and Pen y Fan - to raise funds for Farmers' Union of Wales president Emyr Jones' chosen charity, Cancer Research Wales.
While other organised events were cancelled and Cader Idris closed off due to treacherous conditions - gale force winds and low clouds - the intrepid six, including FUW policy director Nick Fenwick, walked on undaunted.
A spokesman for the group said: "The organisers of another event were very sensible to close off Cader Idris, particularly as many of the participants were unfamiliar with the mountain, which can be very dangerous in such conditions.
"Thankfully a number of us are very familiar with Cader and as farmers are very used to this type of weather and terrain. We were determined to see the challenge through in order to raise money for this excellent cause."
The six completed the event in 12 hours and even found time for a slap up lunchtime feed in Machynlleth's Caffi Maengwyn. "We had an excellent meal and drinks free of charge at Caffi Maengwyn, which is always supportive of good causes," said the spokesman.
The other group members were John Pughe (Commins Coch), Aled Jones (Plas Machynlleth Foxhounds' huntsman), Dafydd Hughes (Aberhosan), Tony Powell and Gwion Aeron (both of Penegoes).
However, they all agreed their feat would not have been possible without the support of Huw Jones, also of Penegoes, who provided transport and moral support.
On the journey up Pen y Fan the six were joined by Nick's wife Liz, and their daughters Mori (8) and Myfi (10) who all made it to the peak in record time, despite the weather.
"The exertions of the day resulted in a great thirst being built up by all and no time was wasted in seeking refreshment that evening at some of Cardiff's finest watering holes," the spokesman added.
"Such was the level of dehydration that some were even seen in the early hours still seeking to quench their thirsts - almost 24 hours after setting off at daybreak up Wales' tallest mountain, more than 150 miles away."