Leonardo Luton team raises £6,842 for Dementia UK

A team of employees from Leonardo's Luton site have raised more than £6,842 for Dementia UK after completing the National Three Peaks Challenge in under 24 hours.

After six months of strenuous training and fundraising, twelve colleagues climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon while travelling overnight between each mountain, successfully completing the challenge despite demanding weather conditions and little rest. Finish times ranged from 22 hours 32 minutes to 23 hours 1 minute, having been given the best chance of success by a team of dedicated volunteer drivers, who collectively clocked up 11 hours of driving over 450 miles across the UK to ensure the team could conquer each peak within 24 hours.

The team chose to support Dementia UK because the condition has affected many colleagues’ families and friends.

Leonardo volunteer driver Oliver Tatlow said: "Dementia is something that has touched the lives of many people across our team, whether through family members, friends or loved ones. We wanted to support a charity that makes a real difference to people facing the challenges that dementia can bring. We’re delighted that our fundraising effort will help the charity continue its important work."

Weather conditions proved to be a challenge, particularly during the ascent of Scafell Pike where one of the mountain guides confirmed it was some of the worst conditions he had experienced in recent years. As the centrepiece of the National Three Peaks Challenge, Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England, standing at 978 metres (3,209 feet) above sea level. Located in the western region of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, it is a rugged, glacially carved peak comprised of a vast summit boulder field.

Because geography requires a 5-hour drive from Fort William to the Lake District, most 24-hour challengers arrive at Scafell Pike in the evening or dead of night. This makes headlamps, precise navigation, and cold-weather gear absolute essentials.

Scott Seefeldt, Programme Manager EW Systems   said: "The Leonardo UK team from Luton showed real grit and determination to complete the National Three Peaks challenge through some seriously testing conditions on Scafell Pike and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). Thankfully Ben Nevis provided much easier conditions even though it was the most demanding ascent and distance. Everyone started and finished as a team, bound by the collective challenge to honour the commitment, fundraising over £6.8k." 

The funds raised will help Dementia UK continue providing specialist support to families affected by dementia through its network of Admiral Nurses. The charity also works with local NHS services in Luton to support people living with dementia and their loved ones.

Lucy Byrne, Philanthropy and Partnership Executive at Dementia UK said: “We are so grateful to the Leonardo Luton team for taking on the National Three Peaks challenge in aid of Dementia UK. One in two of us will be affected by dementia in our lifetime - either by caring for someone with the condition, developing it ourselves, or both. It can be exhausting and overwhelming, not only for the person with dementia, but also for the people caring for them, and their wider family and friends. 

“Thanks to the hard work of amazing fundraisers like those at Leonardo, more families than ever will be able to access the life-changing support offered by our Admiral Nurses.”