21 June 2010
Electricity workers are hoping to climb five Scottish mountain peaks within 24 hours to help in the fight against cancer.
The EDF Energy Networks team, who help build, maintain and operate the electricity network which keeps the lights on in London, the South East and the East of England, are setting off at 5am on June 26 for the 26-mile trek, attempting to climb over 2,500metres in a single day in the Cairngorms National Park.
Their target is to raise £1,000 for Cancer Research UK. This is the sixth in a series of challenges the team has already tackled for charity. They have previously completed the Three Peaks Challenge, the Yorkshire Three Peaks and attempted the Welsh 3000s, raising hundreds of pounds for charity.
EDF Energy Networks staff Steve White, head of network operations in the East of England, based in Barton Road, Bury St Edmunds, John Davis, capital programme delivery manager, from Broadway, Bexleyheath, and Mick Roe, field engineer, from Bidder Street, West Ham, will be joined by a further four external team-mates.
John, who keeps fit by running, said: “It’s always good fun to do a physical challenge like this in good company with your colleagues, getting together to achieve something and knowing it’s for such a worthwhile cause. This is a really difficult challenge. Last year we did a 12-hour walk along the Dundonnell peninsula, across fairly unchartered territory without footpaths and with river crossings. This time we will face five peaks in the Cairngorms over 18 hours. It’s a longer distance than last time and also involves more climbing.”
Mick said: “Once we have reached a particular point on the challenge it will be quicker to keep going than to turn back. We will all be equipped with survival gear so if we get tired we have everything we need to spend a night on the hillside, although we’d rather get back for a pint and a comfy bed!
“We have done these challenges for so many years with the same group that we know our strengths and limitations. We haven’t completed all our challenges but we should be able to complete this one. We will be walking on the longest daylight weekend of the year, in the middle of summer, so we hope the weather will be good, but you can never tell.”
Steve is preparing for the walk by training in the gym, cycling with his son and kayaking. He said: “This annual challenge is a bit of a reunion for me. I enjoy meeting up with colleagues I used to work with and taking on a challenge which is completely different from the norm. I’m sure we will be able to complete the route, it’s just a case of how long it takes us. If we’ve got food and water but still feel exhausted then the sheer determination to put one foot in front of the other will keep us going.”
Lynn Daly, spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK in the South-East, said: “These guys must be bursting with energy themselves to take on such daunting and demanding challenges. We’re really grateful to Steve, John and Mick and the rest of their team for supporting our life-saving research work and wish them the best of luck.”
Anyone can sponsor the team by visiting their sponsorship page: http://www.justgiving.com/5cairngorms2010
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For further information, please contact Niamh Arnett on 01293 509153.
Notes to editors:
EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies, producing around one-fifth of the nation's electricity from its nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms. The company provides power to a quarter of the UK’s population via its electricity distribution networks and supplies gas and electricity to more than 5.5 million business and residential customers. It is the number one supplier of electricity to major business in the UK. EDF Energy’s safe and secure operation of its eight existing nuclear power stations at sites across the country makes it the UK’s largest generator of low carbon electricity. EDF Energy is also leading the UK's nuclear renaissance and has published plans to build four new nuclear reactors, subject to the right investment framework. These new plants would generate enough low carbon electricity for about 40% of Britain’s homes. They would make an important contribution to the UK’s future needs for clean, secure and affordable energy. The project is already creating business and job opportunities for British companies and workers. Through Our Climate and Social Commitments EDF Energy has launched the biggest environmental and social programme of any UK energy company. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company is also helping its customers and others use energy more sustainably through products and initiatives such as Read, Reduce, Reward and Team Green Britain. EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. Following the integration with British Energy in 2009, the company employs nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK.