Rambling friends complete 3 Peaks

Two pals who have been through tough times were joined by 25 of their friends and relatives on the UK’s highest summits last weekend – and raised more than £13,000 for two charities.
Calling themselves the Sandbach 1805 Ramblers, the group completed the Three Peaks Challenge, climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon within three days.
The proceeds will be split between Bowel Cancer UK and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Close friends Simon Hilton, (40), and Chris Horn, (46), organised the challenge having both been through some “extremely difficult life experiences”.
In 2019, Mr Hilton’s dad, Les, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) and sadly died in 2021.
Mr Horn was diagnosed with bowel cancer in September 2022. He had a major operation to remove the tumour and as a result has a stoma. Following his operation and three months of chemo, Mr Horn was given the all-clear in February this year.
Back in Sandbach after completing the Three Peaks, Mr Hilton said: “The challenge went fantastically well. We set out with a Go Fund Me target of £10,000, which would be split between the two charities. To date we have raised a little over £13,000, which is such a great achievement. We’re hoping more money can come in now we’ve completed it and even try to get to £15,000.”
Explaining the Sandbach 1805 Ramblers’ name, he said: “It’s a nod to the 18th May, which was the birthday both Chris and my father shared, along with my eldest son Noah.”
Added Mr Hilton: “The challenge brought us all together and even closer than we all already were as a group of friends. We hope to do other fundraising events for the charities under the Sandbach 1805 Ramblers Group.”
MND affects up to 5,000 adults in the UK at any one time. There is a one in 300 risk of getting the disease across a lifetime. It can affect adults of any age, but is more likely to affect people aged over 50. MND is life-shortening and there is no cure. Although the disease will progress, symptoms can be managed to help achieve the best possible quality of life.
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer and second biggest cancer killer in the UK. But it is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early. There have also been major advances in treatments and bowel cancer screening programmes in recent years.
To donate to the duo’s fund-raiser, visit gofundme.com/f/yxtbf-3-peaks.
(Photo: Simon Hilton).