Farmers’ Union of Wales and FUW Insurance Services staff have set themselves a final challenge to raise vital funds for the DPJ Foundation, a mental health charity in Wales supporting those in the agricultural sector, and break the £50,000 barrier.
The team of 8, which is led by DPJ Foundation volunteer and keen mountaineer Iwan Meirion, will embark on a gruelling 24 hour challenge on Thursday 6 July to tackle the Welsh 3000’s. The 15 mountains in Wales that have a height of 3000 feet or more and the challenge is over 50km in length and involves nearly 3,700m of elevation gain.
It is a strenuous outing on Wales' highest mountains, split into 3 sections, that will push the team to their limits.
The challenge starts by tackling Yr Wyddfa, using the PYG Track to ease into things, but it won't be long before the team start their ascent of Crib Goch and tackling around 400 yards of knife‐edge ridge, which will take them to the first summit of the day. On to the higher Garnedd Ugain and Snowdon thereafter, shortly after they will be descending steep hillsides to reach the first Checkpoint at Nant Peris.
The second section will see them climb up to Elidir Fawr, which is relentless. Whilst not technically difficult, this section does include about 900m of almost continual climbing. A few ups and downs follow ‐ over Y Garn, Glyder Fawr, Glyder Fach and the wonderful Tryfan before the steep descent to the Ogwen Valley, and Checkpoint 2.
The last big climb of the day up to Pen Yr Ole Wen, will be a test for the team. Described as fairly easy going to Carnedd Dafydd, and a deviation to the outlier ‐ Yr Elen, the route then takes them back onto the main ridgeline and up to Carnedd Llewelyn.
Once here, almost all of the ascent is done, and it'll be a case of getting their heads down and putting one foot in front of the other to tick off the remaining bumps of Foel Grach, Carnedd Gwenllian and Foel Fras, and completion of the challenge!
After the obligatory photo on top of the last peak, there is still the matter of the 1.5hr descent to the finish and pick‐up point.
Leading the FUW team is Senior County Executive officer Emyr Wyn Davies. Speaking about the final fundraiser he said: “This is going to challenge us in so many ways - mentally and physically of course. However, we want to give our fundraising efforts for the DPJ Foundation one absolute giant push and break the £50,000 barrier.
“For the team taking on the challenge - I can’t thank you enough for your bravery! I hope many of you will show your support through sponsorship. The work the DPJ Foundation does every day for our farming and rural communities is immense. They save lives every single day and we want to make sure that they can continue to do that.”
FUW President Glyn Roberts added: “In the time that the DPJ Foundation have been our charity, they have been able to support 741 people with professional counselling, 964 people have received Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention in Agriculture training and 177 people have been trained in Bereavement and Grief Awareness in Agriculture. They have supported families who have lost loved ones through suicide and have worked with partners to improve mental health services and help prevent suicide.
“We want to continue to support them in doing this work and saving lives - so to the team taking on the Welsh 3000, dig deep! Your efforts are immense and we will provide you with moral support and anything else you need. Those of you who want to support the team - please donate what you can and know that every penny, every pound you give goes towards this worthy cause.”