Two young men from Cwmbran are preparing to take on the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge this winter to raise funds and awareness for a suicide prevention charity, following the loss of a close friend.
Fundraiser by Corie McDuff : Prevent young suicide and men’s mental health
Corie McDuff, 25, and Brandon Bailey, 26, will begin their challenge on 7 February, attempting to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon. While the traditional challenge aims to complete all three within 24 hours, the pair say there is no pressure to meet that target as they are not professional climbers.
The challenge will take place in winter conditions, meaning the pair will face potentially harsh weather as they tackle the UK’s highest peaks.
Their first ascent will be Ben Nevis in Scotland, where they will be guided by Highland Guides, a company with a combined 25 years’ experience. They will then travel to England to climb Scafell Pike, before returning to Wales to complete the challenge on Snowdon.
Brandon said the idea for the challenge came after losing a colleague to suicide.
“Recently I lost a work friend to suicide, that’s when we had the idea of doing the Three Peaks Challenge, we decided to do it to help raise awareness and show our support for a charity that is close to our hearts.
“By starting this fundraiser it has opened an opportunity for men to talk about how they’re feeling and create a safe space.”
Corie said the pair had always wanted to complete the challenge but felt this was the right time to do it for a cause.
“After Brandon losing a friend to suicide and seeing close friends and family suffer with mental health issues, we thought that a charity challenge was the perfect incentive, we want to highlight the work that PAPYRUS do to help support young people that are suffering with mental health issues.”
The pair are raising money for PAPYRUS – Prevention of Young Suicide, a UK charity that works to reduce suicide among young people and provides confidential support to those struggling.
They have already raised £1,000 on GoFundMe, with strong backing from the local community. Support has come from Pontypool Medical Centre, several local pharmacies, and businesses including Marleys Café, Robert Price and Goodes Fitness, which are helping by displaying posters and collection tins.
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They have also been sponsored by Off Grid Expedition Rentals, who are providing specialist equipment to help them safely navigate winter conditions.
Corie’s mother, Tracy McDuff, said she was incredibly proud of the pair.
She said experiencing suicide loss during the Covid period was “heartbreaking”, adding: “For these young lads to experience that grief at such a young age and then want to help others is amazing. Raising awareness of PAPYRUS and the support that is available is an accomplishment in itself, even without the challenge.”
She added that long waiting lists for mental health support can leave people unsure where to turn, making awareness of charities like PAPYRUS even more important.
The challenge aims not only to raise funds, but also to encourage conversations around mental health and remind people that help is available.
