James Bradley and four other South Woodford dads are set to take on the Three Peaks Challenge in June, fundraising for the aftercare of 11-year-old Connie Campbell, who is recovering from cancer surgery
The Three Peaks Challenge is a gruelling encounter, scaling each of Scotland, England and Wales’s highest points within a 24-hour window. Combined, it is an ascent of 3,064 metres, 23 miles in distance and 462 miles on the road between each location. And by its nature, some of this happens in darkness, throughout the night. It is not for the faint-hearted or ill-prepared, although we five participants are driven by a particularly worthy cause.
Late last year, Connie Campbell – a Woodbridge High School student and daughter of our South Woodford family friends – was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma brain tumour. In the preceding weeks, she had developed unusual headaches and sudden vomiting, at first accredited to migraines and effects from a recent visit to Thorpe Park. Under further examination and a CT scan, the outcome was far more serious.
Connie underwent six hours of surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital to remove the tumour. While thankfully successful, she and the family now face a particularly tough “winding long road” to recovery, including a radio and chemotherapy treatment plan, scans, assessments and appointments over the next five years. Unsurprisingly, this has rocked the family’s world, although Connie is facing the future with the utmost bravery, praised for her resilience by her medical team.
The family have been through so much, and will continue to. We wanted to show we cared, so when another dad, Jamie Finn, mentioned the Three Peaks Challenge, it seemed the perfect way to symbolise overcoming an uphill challenge. The funds raised will help support the family throughout Connie’s lengthy aftercare.
And it’s Connie’s fighting spirit and determination that we dads are looking to emulate on the morning of Saturday 10 June, in the Scottish Highlands, at the foot of Ben Nevis, as the challenge commences.
Other parties are also lending their support. Oakdale School (Connie’s previous school) Parent Teacher Friends Association are planning a quiz night, and separately, another dad, Chris Omotosho, is set to run 250km over a month in aid of Connie’s cause.
We dads can rarely organise ourselves to meet for a pint in the local, let alone conquer three of the country’s highest peaks, with all the sleep deprivation, travel and discomfort that ensues. But there’s no doubt we’ll complete this challenge, just as Connie will prevail too.
Please give all you can. Any funds exceeding expenses the family are incurring will go to the absolute rock stars of Great Ormond Street Hospital.
To donate to Connie’s fundraiser, visit swvg.co.uk/connie
