RAF veteran climbs UK and Ireland’s highest peaks at home for Armed Forces charity

NEWS

An RAF veteran has taken on the challenge of climbing the equivalent of the UK and Ireland’s highest peaks to raise money for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

Ben Wilson, 43, from Gedling, Nottingham, is climbing the equivalent of Scafell Pike, Snowdon, Ben Nevis, Slieve Donard and Carrauntoohil on his stairs at home whilst on lockdown during the COVID-19 crisis.

Ben served in the RAF for nearly three years before a spinal injury obtained during training cut his career short. He received help and support from SSAFA Nottingham following his time in the RAF and diagnoses of PTSD and COPD as a veteran.

The challenge Ben has set himself is the equivalent of climbing five of the highest peaks of UK and Ireland - 2,433 flights of stairs and 34,062 individual steps. 

Ben said: “The help provided by SSAFA genuinely saved my life and I felt I had to give back to all the charities that helped me last year. The COVID-19 situation has given me the opportunity and time to do a challenge like this – it’ll be tough but worth it.” 

If you would like to support Ben, please go to: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Bens_3_Peaks_Stair_Challenge