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Pals take on Three Peaks challenge raising £8k for bone cancer charity

The team heading up the 3 peaks challenge <i>(Image: Gary McHugh)</i>
The team heading up the 3 peaks challenge (Image: Gary McHugh)

A group of pals have taken on the National Three Peaks challenge, raising more than £8,000 for a bone cancer charity in aid of one of their friends.

Gary McHugh, from Darwen, and 14 of his friends completed the gruelling trek on Saturday, in honour of one of the group, Tom Jayne’s fiancée, Natalia, who was diagnosed with bone cancer in September.

Lancashire Telegraph: The group of mates
Lancashire Telegraph: The group of mates

The group of mates (Image: Gary McHugh)

Gary said: “Myself, Tom Jayne, Josh Jayne, Steve Jayne, David Colgan, Liam Yates, Liam Darby, Dan Williams, Brad Gorman, Ryan Slater, Ryan Steele, Rob Heyn, Ste Close, Liam Hindle and Scott Clarke, all took part in the challenge in honour of Tom’s wife to be Natalia.

“We managed to complete it in 23 hours and 45 mins. We battled against the lack of sleep, and being in a minibus but we got there.

“We started the challenge at Ben Nevis at 5.33pm and then went onto Scafell Pike and finally Snowdon.

“Natalia was diagnosed with bone cancer in September and we wanted to raise money so hopefully people won’t have to suffer like she is.”

Lancashire Telegraph: The pals at the summit of one of the mountains
Lancashire Telegraph: The pals at the summit of one of the mountains

The pals at the summit of one of the mountains (Image: Gary McHugh)

The GoFundMe Page has now raised more than £8,000 for Bone Cancer Research Trust, with the group setting a target of £10,000.

The page, which was set up by Tom Jayne, reads: “In September, my fiancé who's only 31 years of age, was diagnosed with bone cancer.

"We have been told it is incurable and was also in the breast and liver; the only symptoms she had was a sore back.

“After an MRI scan we were phoned two hours later and told she had multiple cancerous legions on her spine. Two weeks later she ended up in hospital unable to walk.

Lancashire Telegraph: Giving Natalia some flowers at the end of the challenge
Lancashire Telegraph: Giving Natalia some flowers at the end of the challenge

Giving Natalia some flowers at the end of the challenge (Image: Gary McHugh)

“Further scans have shown that the cancer has spread to her skull, pelvis, hip and femur.

“In November she had to have a hip replacement due to the risk that her hip was going to break because of the cracks in it the cancer had caused.

“We are looking to raise money to help find a cure in the hope that nobody else will have to go through what she has.”

The Three Peaks challenge takes in the three tallest mountains in Great Britain, made up of the country's highest peak, Ben Nevis in Scotland, which stands 1,345 metres tall, as well as England's Scafell Pike in the Lake District, standing 978 metres tall, and Mount Snowdon in Wales, which tops out at 1,085 metres.

Anyone wishing to donate can do so by following this Go Fund Me link.