Once, twice, three times - we made it!

Three childhood friends from Bristol donned their walking boots – and lipsticks – and took part in the challenge of a lifetime to raise money for their local hospice.

 

Tim Fear (39), Adrian Crawford (38) and Andrew Crawford (35) tackled the climb up Mount Snowdon three times consecutively while dressed as women, to help support St Peter's Hospice, raising a whopping £1000 for the cause.

 

The challenge, which was dubbed the 'Three Times a Lady Challenge', saw the friends tackle the Miners Track, the Pyg Track and the infamous Crib Goch route non-stop on Saturday 30 June.

 

The team, from Downend, decided to raise money for the charity after Tim's mum was cared for by the hospice during the last days of her life, while battling liver cancer.

 

Tim said: "In the past myself Adrian and Andrew have undertaken various challenges for different charities, but this year was particularly poignant for me after losing my lovely mum last year.

 

"In the final days of Mum's life I felt the care she received from the St Peter's Hospice and Macmillan nurses were of great comfort and help to me and my family. I decided that if a challenge was on the cards this year, then who better to benefit. Thankfully the lads (ladies) agreed!"

 

Each ascent took the team between six and seven hours to tackle, meaning an early 2am start.

 

Tim continued: "The challenge was both physically demanding and mentally draining. Once we reached the finish line we had need to turn around and do it all over again – twice!

 

"Having said this it was great fun and the drag queen element put a smile on everyone's faces. Thankfully we made it back intact but the same couldn't be said for the tights which gave up the ghost after Crib Goch!"

 

St Peter's Hospice fundraising manager Jo Gibbons said: "The boys did a fantastic job with this challenge; it's great to hear that they conquered it and the amount raised is amazing! We love unique fundraisers like this; nothing like it has ever been done before, so we're thrilled to be named as the chosen charity.

 

"The money raised by Tim and the team will go towards continuing our work helping those with life-limiting illnesses and their families."

 

St. Peter's Hospice is Bristol's only adult hospice caring for local people with incurable diseases and giving them a better quality of life. All care is provided free of charge but with the NHS contributing just 23% of the £6.5 million needed to run the hospice yearly, support from the public is essential.

 

Last year the hospice cared for 2,675 patients in the region and supported over 6,000 family members, including children.

 

Tim said: "Mum was a keen, if slightly worried, supporter of our challenge antics and I know she would have been proud of us on this one.

 

"Adrian and Andrew are like brothers to me and Mum watched us all grow up together; the main thing that keeps me going is the thought that Mum would have wanted us all to carry on and be strong.

 

"Her strength in life, especially during her terrible illness when all attempts were made to stay with us, was nothing short of breathtaking.

 

"Ultimately, I'm driven to complete this challenge by wonderful memories and the love of the one who gave me, and taught me, life. I hope the money we raise will help other families like mine."

 

For more information or to donate money to the Three Times a Lady Challenge please visit www.threetimesalady.btck.co.uk or http://www.justgiving.com/3timesalady