Latest news with #ThreePeaksChallenge
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Daily Record
Retired detective who took on 2,500-mile cycle to Africa for charity awarded MBE in King's Birthday Honours List
Retired Bridge of Allan detective Johnny Dreczkowski has been awarded an MBE for his services to a local charity and respite home in the King's Birthday Honours List. A retired police detective who has taken on multiple gruelling charity efforts was celebrating this week after receiving an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours List. Johnny Dreczkowski was named as a recipient of the prestigious award for his services to a local charity. Earlier this month, Johnny, 57, completed a 2,500-mile charity cycle from iconic Stirling Castle to Morocco in aid of the Eilidh Brown respite home. The respite home is run by the Eilidh Brown Memorial Fund – set up by the family of the tragic Stirling schoolgirl. Eilidh sadly lost her battle with a rare germ cell cancer on March 25, 2010, just nine days shy of her 16th birthday. Her dying wish was to have a respite created close to her home in Stirling. That became a reality back in 2023, when her family oversaw the opening of the respite home in Thornhill. Johnny – a former Detective Inspector who served as the Head of Counter Terrorism and Covert Specialist Training – has undertaken several huge efforts to raise much need fund for the charity. Prior to his cycle to Morocco, Johnny, from Bridge of Allan, he embarked on a bike ride stretching 875-miles – from Land's End to John O'Groats – i n May 2021, His impressive record doesn't stop there, he has also conquered the West Highland Way, the demanding North Coast 500, took on the Three Peaks Challenge, persevered through the Cateran Yomp 24-hour Challenge, and completed the London Marathon. In May 2023, he undertook a solo cycling expedition covering 1,400-miles, from Stirling Castle to the Colosseum in Rome, with the aim of raising funds for the respite home. Just last year, he impressively cycled around the entirety of the UK and Ireland in a mere seven days. Johnny's close ties to the home don't end there though. His wife, the architect Ally Croll, was instrumental in making the home a reality as she worked hand-in-hand with Eilidh's family. On receiving the MBE, Johnny said: 'I am truly grateful and humbled to have been awarded the prestigious MBE by His Majesty The King in his Birthday Honours List, and very thankful to those who nominated me. 'Although I'm the recipient, every single person, family, friend, sponsor, and well-wisher who has supported me and the Eilidh Brown Respite Home over the years, has a hand in this success, and I'm sharing it with each of them.' He added: 'I'm just floored and overwhelmed by their love and support and I feel it in my heart. To work with them, as we try and make a difference in the lives of children with cancer at Eilidh's is the privilege of my life, and I'm grateful to Gordon, Nicole (Eilidh's parents) and the family, to be able to help. 'I'd like thank my darling wife Ally, who's stalwart support of my endurance challenges and fundraising is nothing short of remarkable, and none of what I have achieved could have been done without that unstinting love and support. 'To my mother Margaret and my late father Mitch, I am the sum of my upbringing, and I owe my values, my work ethic, my concern for others and sense of community to you both. 'To my daughters Emma and Zoe, a father can only strive to make his daughter's and family proud, thank you for your love and support.' As part of Johnny's most recent charity effort, he set off from Stirling Castle at the start of May and undertook a solo and unsupported cycle through seven countries, across two continents, spanning three different time zones – all within a mere 34 days, reaching the finish line in Marrakesh. That has so far netted more than £30,000 for the home, with the finally sum yet to be tallied. In her valiant fight against this illness, Eilidh and her family, who are from St Ninians, Stirling, cherished their time together at Calum's Cabin, a respite retreat on the Isle of Bute. It was that experience that left Elidih hoping for a respite centre much closer to home. The Eilidh Brown Respite Home requires a whopping £50,000 per year to operate and Johnny's efforts have all been with that in mind. When Johnny reached Marrakesh earlier this month, Eilidh's proud dad, Gordon, said: 'Johnny has been an amazing, constant support since the very start. It astounds us as a family the lengths he goes too support us – he is a machine and we are so very proud of him and full of love.' Over the years, Johnny's relentless efforts have helped raise more than £100,000 for charity, thanks to the steadfast support of friends, family, and the local community.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Three Peaks fundraiser in memory of Telford schoolboy
Staff at a school in Telford are to take on the Three Peaks Challenge in memory of a boy who died after collapsing at Lloyd, 12, died in June 2023 after being found in a critical condition at Telford's Langley there are hoping to raise funds for Asthma and Lung UK and the Dawley Youth will attempt to climb the highest mountains in England, Wales and Scotland in a 24-hour period. The challenge began on Saturday and will see the staff taking on Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), Ben Nevis and Scafell school thanked everyone who had donated online and said: "Together, we can ensure that Joshua's memory lives on in a meaningful and impactful way." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Rhyl Journal
14-06-2025
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
Cancer survivors urge men to get checked amid charity hike
Castle Green Homes, based in St Asaph, North Wales, has chosen Prostate Cancer UK as one of the beneficiaries of its latest fundraiser—a Three Peaks Challenge—after two of its employees, David Ralph and Alan Wilson, were diagnosed with prostate cancer. The challenge, taking place on June 26, will raise money for Prostate Cancer UK, mental health charity Chasing the Stigma, and Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue. Mr Ralph, a development engineer from Chester, experienced difficulty passing urine for 12 months before seeking medical advice. He said: "I'd often take several minutes to commence or choosing to wait for a cubicle to save the embarrassment of standing at a urinal for several minutes with nothing moving. "After managing my condition for a while, I arranged for a PSA check and physical examination in July 2024. "I wish I'd acted sooner on my symptoms. "I now tell all male friends and acquaintances to get checked out. "There's often misconceived stigma for a guy to get checked out—but ultimately a five-minute doctor's visit can really make a difference." An MRI and biopsy revealed prostate cancer in September 2024, with a Gleason score of (3+4)=7. Mr Ralph chose to undergo a radical prostatectomy in January 2025. He said: "I considered this to be a better option to prevent future spread outside of the prostate. "It is possible to live a full normal life without a prostate." Post-surgery tests confirmed the cancer was contained and had not spread. Mr Ralph now has regular blood tests as part of his aftercare. He said: "Men often don't talk about their health or like me, leave it a little while until they do something about it. "The cancer may have been there for several years but without the initial PSA check that can be arranged with your GP, the results would not have been known that triggered the treatment. "My message is simple—please get yourself checked out with a PSA test from your GP." Alan Wilson, a construction director from Moreton in Wirral, was also diagnosed with prostate cancer last year and opted for a prostatectomy. Mr Wilson said: "Such a simple PSA test could possibly save someone's life. "People need to insist on the blood test." Both men will support their colleagues as they take on the Three Peaks Challenge later this month.
North Wales Chronicle
12-06-2025
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Three Peaks Challenge team help stranded hikers on Snowdon
The Castle Green Homes team, who were preparing for the Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds for Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue, encountered three stranded walkers during their descent. The challenge, set to take place on June 26, will also support Chasing the Stigma and Prostate Cancer UK. Richard Williams, operations director at Castle Green Homes, said: "We'd passed three young women not far from the top and had walked about two and a half miles down when we looked back and couldn't see any torches or anyone coming down after us. "We made a decision as a group to turn back and find them. "They had no torches, one of them had a twisted ankle, they were lost, didn't have any water and didn't know what to do. "We took our time walking them back down and to help make them feel comfortable with us we phoned my wife. "I would be devastated to think something had happened to my daughter and no one helped them. "God knows what would have happened – they could have taken a wrong path over the edge." Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue, one of the challenge's chosen charities, is familiar with such incidents. The team of around 50 unpaid volunteers responded to 178 requests for help last year—almost one every other day. Chris Lloyd, press officer for Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue, said: "We all go out to enjoy the great outdoors not intending to have an accident. "But accidents can happen to anyone. "It is important to reduce the risk of such an incident by proper preparation and knowing what to do in such an event. "First, try and resolve the situation by yourself. "Lost? "Try retracing steps to a known point. "Stuck on steep ground? "Shout, there may be someone close by who can help. "Injured? "Treat using your first aid kit. "The person may well be able to walk off without needing rescue. "However, if out of your comfort zone, dial 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. "The team leader may well be able to locate your mobile telephone and to direct you to the correct path. "It is easier for team members to assist able-bodied casualties rather than let them continue to have an accident and injury." Mr Lloyd also advised on essential preparations for mountain walks. READ MORE: European surgeons visit Ysbyty Gwynedd to learn robotic knee surgery techniques He said: "Check the local weather forecast before you go out, and make sure that you have adequate clothing and spare clothing too, including waterproofs. "Mountain weather can change very quickly. "Know where you're going, make sure you have the right equipment and that the whole party have the right skills. "Being able to navigate is important. "Take a torch – don't use the one on your phone as it uses the battery and then you won't be able to call the rescue out." To support the team's Three Peaks Challenge, visit
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Team take on three peaks in memory of Blackburn firefighter who died of cancer
A group of firefighters took on the Three Peaks on Tuesday (May 20) in memory of a Blackburn firefighter who died of cancer. Members of Blackburn Fire Station's red watch took part in the Three Peaks Challenge, where they attempted to climb the three highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales, in 24 hours. This was in memory of Beccy Barr, a former firefighter and BBC presenter, who died last year aged 46. Beccy announced she had incurable abdominal cancer in December 2023. The team shared pictures of themselves at the top of Snowdon, Wales' highest peak, when they finished the challenge. They also shared a picture of themselves before they started climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland, the UK's highest point and the start of the challenge. Blackburn firefighters before climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland (Image: LFRS) After scaling and descending the 1,345-metre tall Ben Nevis, the team drove to the Lake District to take on England's tallest mountain, the 978m high Scafell Pike, before soldiering on to Eryri National Park to summit the 1,085m Snowdon. At the time of writing, more than £1,200 has been raised for St John's Hospice North Lancashire and South Lakes, which provides care to patients with life-limiting conditions throughout North Lancashire, the South Lakes and parts of North Yorkshire. Red Watch at Blackburn Fire Station climbed Mount Snowdon (Image: LFRS) A spokesperson for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: 'Yesterday, members of our Red Watch at Blackburn Fire Station took part in the national three peaks 24-hour challenge in memory of Beccy Barr — a sadly missed member of the watch who was always positive and full of life.' Beccy Barr (Image: LFRS) Beccy joined the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service in September 2019, after 20 years as a journalist, including seven with BBC's North West Tonight. She revealed at the time she was following in the footsteps of her father, Roy Barr, and after finishing her training was posted to Blackburn Fire Station. Beccy started her career at the Blackpool Citizen in her early 20s and had previously worked for Bloomberg News and CNB. To make a donation visit and search 'Red Watch Blackburn fundraising for St John's Hospice North Lancashire and South Lakes'.
