A team from British Game Assurance have completed the famed Three Peaks Challenge, raising essential funds for the Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust – Year of the Gamekeeper.

Twenty-four hours after setting off to climb Ben Nevis, the BGA team completed the Three Peaks Challenge at the top of Snowdon. It was a very challenging journey, hindered by accidents and animals on the road, causing late night climbs with low visibility.

Mass erosion of the paths of Snowdon due to over-use also put the team to the test on the final peak.

The BGA team persisted, though, and raised essential funds for the Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust – Year of the Gamekeeper. The team has so far raised £3,435.

Head of Operations, Louisa Clutterbuck, who completed the challenge, said: “Growing up, we had a friend who was the local keeper who sadly lost his life to suicide – if he had known about the GWT then this may have been prevented.

“The Three Peaks Challenge was the most difficult undertaking I have ever completed, testing you mentally and physically. All of this was worth it to raise funds for the GWT who are going to be needed more than ever this coming season. It is so important that each member of the shooting community looks after each other, and the Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust is integral in this.”

The Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust exists to support gamekeepers, stalkers and ghillies and their dependents, past and present. It provides financial grants for them in times of hardship, ill health and retirement. The helpline is a key part of the service providing a confidential listening service with information and support on a wide variety of issues including health, retirement, redundancy, housing and employment issues.

The Year of the Gamekeeper is a multi-organisational initiative which aims to raise the profile of gamekeepers and to celebrate their unique position as custodians of the countryside. It also aims to support and sustain the future of the Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust.

It is seeking to raise £222,000 by the end of next year, through encouraging every gamekeeper and member of the shooting community to do one thing in 2022 to raise funds for it.

If you would like to donate, please do so here: British Game Assurance (BGA) is fundraising for Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust (justgiving.com)