FOUR friends have completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge, three times, in three days to raise money for the charity Leeds Mind.

Pete Healey, Anil Mander, Graeme Bevington and Dave Healey took on the challenge in memory of their friend Stoney who was well known in Ilkley and sadly took his own life last May. As well as raising money they also want to raise awareness of men’s mental health.

It follows a challenge to complete the Dales Way in three days in 2019 which raised £8,000 for Mind.

The friends completed the latest challenge over three days from Friday, August 7 to Sunday, August 9

Pete Healey said: “It was significantly tougher than last year’s challenge of doing the Dales Way in three days, however we finished the first day in nine hours and one minute, the second day in ten hours and 15 minutes and the third day in ten hours and 25 minutes.

“Each day brought significant challenges with Friday being very hot, Saturday there were lots of other walkers for the Open Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge and Sunday with the blustery winds for most of the walk. Not to mention the detour on the route up Ingleborough each day which was a steep gradient at the end of tough days!

“So far we’ve raised an amazing £2,500 for Leeds Mind and the great work that they do, but hopefully we’ve also raised awareness about the significant challenges faced by those experiencing struggles with their mental health.

“Often men won’t ask for help for fear of being seen as weak and feel as if they will burden other people with what they are going through. As men we are often told to “man up” and get on with it, that it is important to not let anyone fully understand what we are going through.

“By asking for help, by admitting it is okay not to be okay, by talking about it and each of us taking the time to ask if someone is okay, really okay, we are all helping more than we realise.

“The world lost an amazing person last May in Stoney, but if Bevi, Anil, Dave and I can raise some funds for Leeds Mind by doing challenges like this to carry on their amazing work, then the pain and aching joints in the days to come will be so worthwhile.”

There is still time to donate to the cause online by visiting: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/3peaks-3times-3days?utm_id=27%2C