Brave Ben Nevis

Come and join us for the challenge of a life time – the opportunity to Brave Ben Nevis!

On Friday 2nd June 2023 a team of diabetes health care professionals and children and young people with type 1 and their families will take on the challenge of climbing Ben Nevis – the tallest and most challenging peak in the United Kingdom.

Some climbers will be taking on the hike as the final part of our network ‘3 peaks in 3 years’ challenge – and for this they will receive a gold medal at the end of the challenge!

However the hike is open to all climbers who would like to join us to take on this fantastic challenge. Everyone who takes part will receive a medal on completion of the challenge.

Ben Nevis is the highest Peak in the UK and as such will prove to be a challenging hike. We have been advised that it will take around 8-9 hours to undertake the hike. Therefore the opportunity to join the team is only open to those who are fit and well enough to stand a very good chance of completing the Hike. This is for health and safety reasons.

Each team will be supported by a team of diabetes health care professionals. They need to be able to focus their support on the CYP with type 1 taking on the challenge. They will be unable to do this if they are having to divert their attention to people who start the hike but are not actually fit enough to complete the challenge.

As part of the preparation process our diabetes sports and exercise expert Anna Groom will be organising several practise hikes so that the team can have the opportunity to meet and walk together before the big day. We will also have a virtual teams meeting to discuss the plan for the day, the kit required and answer any remaining questions prior to the challenge. It is a requirement that everyone attends this pre-event and commits to ensuring they have the correct clothing and equipment kit list.There is no minimum age for the hike – however it is essential that any younger children who you register for the hike are used to walking long distances uphill and are able to hike unaided on the day.

It costs £10 per person to register for the hike – we will need a completed registration form for each individual hoping to join us in the challenge. As part of this entry fee you will receive a team t-shirt to

wear for the hike and a beautiful medal and goody bag at the end of the challenge.

We have decided to hold the hike on Friday 2nd June to give us the option of postponing to the Saturday if the weather is not looking good. It also provides participants with enough time to travel home to be back for school re-starting on the Monday.

Entrants will be responsible for organising their own transport and accommodation. The network will provide accommodation recommendations after we have done our risk assessment and recce trip in the autumn.

Each family entering the hike will be required to raise a minimum of £500 sponsorship for the challenge. All monies raised will go towards delivering support, education and care to CYP with type 1 diabetes across the East of England. Monies from previous hikes have been used to heavily subsidise places at our diabetes adventures camps so that we can open these up to families who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford for their child to attend.Once you have registered for the challenge we will send through information about how to go about setting up your just giving page.Our hiking challenges up Scafell and Snowdon have been brilliant fun so we are hoping that Ben Nevis will be too.

If you have any questions about the hike please do note hesitate to give me a call on 07977442060. We look forward to welcoming you to the team.