Thetford lads’ hiking challenge raises £5k for children’s ward

A group of intrepid Thetford fund-raisers who attempted the Three Peaks Challange in aid of West Suffolk Hospital has returned successful - and raised more than £5,000.

The nine men, including Thetford rapper Frank Fraize, attempted the challenge in 24 hours to raise money for the hospital’s Rainbow Ward, which helped many of them into parenthood..

Battling through poor visibility on Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike and ending up with just two and half hours to climb and descend Mount Snowdon, four men completed the challenge with seconds to spare.

In total, the cohort raised £5,300 for the ward.

Mark Dean, who finished with 45 seconds remaining, said: “It was the experience of a lifetime. Everybody wanted to make sure we did it for Thetford and for the Bury hospital.

“We were nervous attempting to do something which should have been done by experienced hikers, but we had a real community spirit.

“It was emotional, and there were some mixed feelings at the end, but the main thing was everybody was safe and well when we got down.”

A long-than-anticipated climb up Scafell Pike meant the group had a bare three hours to get up and down the 1,085m Mount Snowdon.

To boost funds, the group organised a homecoming meal at the Mulberry in Thetford, where the idea was dreamt up over a group meal last year.