From October 11th-13th, West Bridgford resident, Pete Ford, completed the Three Peaks Challenge of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in aid of the Professional Cricketers’ and Tom Maynard Trusts. Pete had previously completed long distance bike rides in 2015 and 2017 in support of the two cricket charities, whose work includes helping ex-cricketers, or current cricketers who have fallen on hard times, such as suffering career finishing injuries, or encouraging aspiring young cricketers aspiring to fulfil dreams of becoming professional cricketers.
Pete was one of up to 50 participants who took on the challenge of climbing the three peaks, joining past and present cricketers, commercial partners, PCA Staff and employees from various county cricket clubs. Notable among these was England batting legend, Graham Gooch, England Ladies Cricketers Georgia Elwiss, Laura Marsh, Kate Cross, Jenny Gunn and Natasha Farrant and county cricketers Mark Stoneman of Surrey, Daryl Mitchell of Worcestershire, Tom Smith of Gloucestershire, Rob Jones of Lancashire and Sussex captain and wicketkeeper, Ben Brown.
The physically demanding trek was made more difficult by torrential rain and 30 mile an hour winds on the first day and steady rain on the third day, but the effort of the group in completing a total distance and height gain of 26 miles and 3,400 metres respectively, was amply rewarded at the end of the final trek, with the discovery that the target figure of £50,000 had been easily surpassed. At time of writing, an impressive £54,600 has been raised for the two charities.