An army veteran with serious health conditions is preparing for a one month trek to scale all 214 Wainwrights to raise £214,000 for Combat Stress.
Major Simon (Sip) Powers is not letting his physical injuries stop him from embarking on an extraordinary month-long endurance challenge – the self-supported scaling of all 214 Wainwright fells in the Lake District – from August 1.
He will be raising awareness and funds for Combat Stress, the UK’s leading mental health charity that provides treatment and support to former servicemen and women with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).
Sip will be the first person with serious health issues to attempt this expedition.
He has type 1 diabetes, a stoma and autoimmune syndrome, and has undergone major surgery on his intestinal tract to eliminate inflammatory bowel disease and prevent the possible spread of rectal cancer.
Sip will attempt this challenge carrying full expedition gear weighing approximately 20kg and remain in the hills for the entire duration.
If successful, he will be only the seventh person to have scaled all Wainwrights in one attempt
Sip has set an ambitious fundraising target of £214,000, which is £1,000 for each peak he climbs. He will set off on his month-long 600km expedition from Keswick town square on August 1 and plans to hike a minimum of 22km (the equivalent of a half marathon) every day so that he can conquer all 214 Wainwrights within a month.
He plans to be joined at various points by veterans and wounded soldiers, to challenge themselves and at the same time assist with their personal health and wellbeing.
“This challenge is designed to represent those UK veterans who carry their troubles on their shoulders and break boundaries to prove what is possible,” said Sip. “I have never let my physical condition be a barrier to achievement and keeping physically active and being outdoors helps me tackle my own demons.
“I have lost friends, comrades and soldiers to suicide, and I know there are veterans who find it hard to transition to civilian life. Raising funds and awareness for Combat Stress by pushing myself to my limits is a way to encourage other people to take the first step and ask for help with their mental health.”
