A team from professional services firm KPMG have repeated their achievement of 2023 and,for a sencond year, organised a fund raising event in memory of their colleague Marty Stephens. Supporting a good cause is often a private and personal thing, but this team have shown there are ways of doing this through teamwork, and having a great time doing them.
They’ve used tough mountain walks in memory of their colleague Marty Stephens to raise money for the SMT: last year, the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, and this year the Fairfield Horseshoe in the Lake District.
Marty had a passion for climbing and the outdoors. No challenge or target was too great; he would always say “Don’t worry, we’ll smash it!”, which was where the Smash It Challenge got its name. Its goal, to raise funds for the Scottish Mountaineering Trust, is one that resonates deeply with Marty’s passion for the outdoors and his Scottish roots.
The Three Peaks walk, 24 miles over Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, attracted an amazing 75 walkers from KPMG. All made the circuit within 12 hours, on a day that started in the rain and ended with stunning sunshine. Their target was to raise £20,000 for the SMT, and true to Marty’s legacy they realised while out on the walk that they’s smashed it! We benefited to the tune of over £27,000.
The Fairfeld Horseshoe, completed on Friday 24 May 2024, is a shorter circuit of 16.4km (10.2 miles). But as one guide says, it’s the ups and downs on both ridges that take their toll. There are 1100m of ascent from Ambleside, and the summit is a confusing place calling for compass work. For these reasons the KPMG team decided to cut walker numbers by about half. They had expert leaders, including Ian Brotherton, who’s a qualified leader alongside his KPMG work.
34 walkers set out at 8am. Despite “wind, rain and visiblity reminiscent of a pea soup” spirits were high, and coming down they did have spectacular views of Ambleside and Lake Windermere. For “a few die-hards”, Saturday brought a smaller, impromptu walk under perfect weather conditions. The irony was not lost as they enjoyed clear, breathtaking views of the entire Fairfield Horseshoe!
The SMT has benefited to the tune over over £8000 from the 2024 Smash It Challenge. We thank all who donated, we’re grateful for the huge commitment by the KPMG organisers, and we’re so glad that the money was raised by people tackling, and enjoying, a mountain adventure.
Link to the 2024 Smash It Justgiving page
About the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge: https://www.threepeakschallenge.uk/yorkshire-three-peaks-challenge/
