A team from Manchester law firm JMW Solicitors has raised £11,000 for charity after undertaking the gruelling National Three Peaks challenge, one of Britain’s toughest outdoor feats.

In a harsh test of physical and mental strength the team of 15 attempted to climb the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales: Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mount Snowden within 24 hours.

The climbers were faced with challenges including sleep deprivation, long travelling times between the peaks and heat exhaustion when they took on the challenge in June.

Two unfortunately had to drop out of the feat early on after to succumbing to heat stroke. However the remaining 13 completed the challenge; several reaching the top of Mount Snowden within the 24 hour deadline and a few others missing it by just minutes.

The team included solicitors, partners and support staff and included Catherine Gaynor, Dominic Coyle, Eddie Jones, Grace O'Driscoll, Oliver Orton, Jo-Anna Jellings, Joe Ailion, Lucy Mellor, Sarah Wilkinson, Megan Dent, Richard Allan, Sadie Thomson, Andy Marshall, Matthew Handley and Dafydd Jones.

Their fundraising efforts in aid of JMW’s charities of the year Ronald McDonald House Charities and Tommy’s were very successful. Money raised by the team through personal and work connections topped £5,495 which has now been match funded by JMW to take the total to £11,000.

Kay Ali, deputy director of partnerships at Tommy’s, commented: “We are delighted that colleagues at JMW have raised such a fantastic amount for Tommy’s! Their fundraising will help us to continue our research into the causes and prevention of baby loss and support women and their families throughout their pregnancy journey. This includes Tommy’s Rainbow clinics in St Mary’s Hospital and Wythenshawe which give specialist care and support to women who are pregnant again following a previous stillbirth. Tommy’s is very proud to be JMW’s charity partner and we can’t wait to see what more we do together!”

Lisa Lyth, corporate fundraiser at Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, added: “We are so thankful to the team at JMW for their recent team fundraising behind the National Three Peaks!   Their incredible fundraising efforts will help us provide free ‘home away from home’ accommodation for over 200 families whose children are in hospital far from home.  A massive well done to everyone involved and we can’t thank you enough for your support!”

Oliver Orton, a trainee solicitor at JMW who organised the challenge, said it was the hardest feat any of the team had ever done so they were delighted to have raised such a mammoth amount.

Oliver said: “We knew this was going to be tough but I don’t think any of us realised just how hard it would be. We weren’t helped by the weather and the June heatwave that was happening at the time which meant that we were faced with the additional challenges of heat exhaustion and dehydration.

“However knowing what a difference the money we raised would make to the families the two charities help to get us through. Ronald McDonald House Charities is a lifeline for families with a seriously ill child and Tommy’s helps to prevent the tragedy of stillbirth, two issues none of us wants to contemplate and it’s amazing to think of the difference our 24 hours of pain will make.”

Eddie Jones, head of clinical negligence at JMW and a fellow climber, concluded: “This was an incredibly difficult feat and everyone at JMW is very proud of the team for taking it on and raising so much money for two fantastic charities. The board was delighted to be able to support their efforts with match funding which will hopefully make a huge difference to the families the charities help.”

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