30 June 2005 00:00 Central Networks scales three heights for charity

A group of seven Central Networks employees raised over £2,000 for charity following a gruelling 24-hours spent scaling the UK’s three highest peaks.

The two teams from Central Networks’ headquarters in Nottingham and Birmingham sites took on the ‘Three Peaks Challenge’ and are now donating their sponsorship money – together with match funding from the company – to homeless charity Shelter.

Central Networks manager David Hughes, from Derbyshire, was one of the seven employees who took part in the event.

He said: “It was really tough for all of us but the thought of raising all that money for such as fantastic charity kept us going.”

One of the teams was made up of four apprentices who started with the company in September and who are currently training to be jointers or linesmen.

The challenge started at Scotland’s highest peak, Ben Nevis, with the climbers setting off at 3pm on Friday 20th May. They reached the summit after about six hours of walking through torrential rain and thick fog.

“We couldn’t believe it when we reached the top of Ben Nevis on Friday night. There was snow at the top and the weather all weekend was pretty dreadful,” said David.

The teams then headed off by minibus to Scafell Pike in the Lake District where they were delighted to reach their next target well on schedule, before heading for Snowdon in Wales where they set up camp and enjoyed a well-earned night’s rest.

“We woke up on Sunday morning to yet more bad weather but we battled through and both teams finished at around midday,” said David.

“The whole experience was absolutely fantastic - I can’t wait for next year!”

The other climbers were Luke Tomlinson, Martin Lee, Jamie Thomas and Jerrard Leigh from Derby, and Stuart Goldsmith and Adam Lawcock from Birmingham.

ENDS

Notes to editors:
•Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.8 million customers across the East and West Midlands through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
•Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information and pictures of the climbers contact:
Emily Highmore on 024 7642 4583