Team of eight battle National Three Peaks for boy with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

(L-R) Lee Ashworth, Patrick Altimas, James Halliwell, Andrew Ross, John Finnerty, Colin Wheelan, Kiddy Mo and James Keeling completed the National Three Peaks Challenge

A team of eight men have completed the National Three Peaks Challenge – climbing the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales – to raise much needed funds for Harvey Smith, a local boy battling Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).

A total of £1,488 has been raised so far by the group, who set out on their challenge on 6 June 2019.

The team - Lee Ashworth, Patrick Altimas, James Halliwell, Andrew Ross, John Finnerty, Colin Wheelan, Kiddy Mo and James Keeling – completed the challenge by hiking 23 miles in 24 hours up Snowdon in Wales, Ben Nevis, Scotland and Scafell Pike, England.

The challenge was not only to raise funds for Harvey, but to ‘understand how exhausted Harvey feels all day every day, when such small things like walking to the toilet can be as difficult as climbing a mountain’.

14-year-old Harvey Smith from Rochdale has been battling ME, a debilitating and chronic illness, for four years. The neurological illness, which causes symptoms that affect body systems such as the nervous and immune system, can cause immense pain and unrelenting fatigue. It affects approximately 250,000 people in the UK.

In 2017 following an infection, Harvey’s illness became more severe leaving him house and bedbound most days, relying on a wheelchair to move around when he can.

The team's Just Giving page describes: ‘Harvey's life is very limited now; he is home schooled and very isolated. He has spent years of his short life like this and misses out on so much that should be part of every childhood. There is no cure for ME, no NHS treatment and no medication to treat the many painful symptoms of ME.

‘Before Harvey became unwell, he was always outdoors, walking with his family and his dog Spud, climbing trees, playing sports, having fun with friends and kayaking. He’s lost that part of his life now. His house has become his life.’

The money raised from the National Three Peaks Challenge will go towards providing Harvey with adaptions and equipment needed, and private osteopathic treatment, to make life easier and give Harvey the best quality of life possible.

If you would like to donate to Harvey, visit the Just Giving page:

• www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/3peaksforharvey