Published on: Thursday, 25 July 2024
Last updated: Thursday, 25 July 2024
The team on the path to Scafell Pike. L-R: Georgia Payne, Richard Barke, Linda Roberts and Joni Swain. (Credit: Greater Anglia)
Four hardy Greater Anglia and Network Rail colleagues joined forces to raise more than £5,000 for charity by completing the Three Peaks By Rail Challenge.
The team, made up of Greater Anglia’s Safeguarding and Community Safety Manager Georgia Payne, Travel Fulfilment Clerk Linda Roberts, and Roster Clerk Joni Swain, along with Network Rail Anglia’s Route Crime and Security Manager Richard Barke, scaled Ben Nevis in Scotland, Snowdon in Wales, and Scafell Pike in England between Thursday 27 and Saturday 29 June.
They were raising money for the Railway Children charity, which helps keep vulnerable children safe on the streets and transport networks in the UK, India, and Tanzania.
Battling through high winds, heavy rain, and even hail at times, and travelling by train between the three peaks, they completed the challenge in just 36 hours.
The team pose at Crewe station. (Credit: Greater Anglia)
Georgia Payne, Greater Anglia’s Safeguarding and Community Safety Manager, said:
“I trained so much before the event as I knew it would be hard, but I didn’t realise how tough, with the combination of hardly any sleep, along with the relentless strain on my legs being worse than I thought.
“Undoubtedly some of the best bits were the spirit of everyone involved.
“After Scafell Pike, we stopped off for a drink and some chips at a pub on Ravenglass station platform and local residents were coming over and offering us showers in their homes!
“We didn’t get a view from the summit on any of the mountains, but that didn’t matter –we all helped each other and the thought that we were doing it for the vulnerable kids that Railway Children support spurred me on.”
Linda Roberts, Travel Fulfilment Clerk for Greater Anglia based in Colchester, said:
“I loved being part of something different to normal everyday life and the train became our home.
“We met lots of new people and it was amazing how quickly we all just got on with sleeping, getting changed, and living in very close proximity.
“When I was able to look at the scenery on the mountains it was amazing, but I spent most of the time looking down at my feet as it was slippery.
“My thoughts were simply to do the best I could and make my family and friends proud of me. It felt amazing to finish – I was tired, emotional, but very happy!”
Joni Swain, Roster Clerk for Greater Anglia based in Colchester, said:
“I love a challenge and really wanted to just give it a go.
“The scenery was amazing and the accomplishment you felt when you got back to the bottom was indescribable! Both our own team members supported each other and people we didn’t even know from other teams were encouraging you as you passed.
“The reality of it was tough, having barely any sleep from Thursday morning through to Saturday night and the weather conditions were terrible with it being windy, cold and even hailing at times.
“But the thing that made me keep pushing on was my team and the reason we were all doing this: the vulnerable children we were raising money for.
“The feeling when I finished was just amazing. I was proud of myself, I pushed myself as much as I could, and I’m so pleased how we all did together.”
Richard Barke, Network Rail Anglia’s Route Crime and Security Manager, said:
“I grew up in a household that didn’t have a lot of money, but I was fortunate enough to have people around to help and guide me. Sadly, not all children have that constant support, and that’s where Railway Children comes in.
“This challenge brought a lot of aspects of my life together. I was in the army for five years, and I love hiking, running and navigating, so the Three Peaks By Rail seemed a great chance to test myself, whilst joining forces with Greater Anglia colleagues and travelling between the summits by rail rather than road.
“In the end, the challenge was a real test of endurance and stamina. But together we did it, and the railway took good care of us along the way!”
Cat Howourth, Events Manager at Railway Children, said:
“We are extremely grateful for the support of the Greater Anglia team and the other 170 people who took part in the Three Peaks By Rail event, which has raised over £200,000 so far.
“This incredible amount of money will help Railway Children to support vulnerable children found on the transport networks in the UK, India and Tanzania.
“It was amazing to see how all participations were smiling throughout the event, despite the challenges with the weather and lack of sleep that the challenge brings!”