Omnia Environmental Consultancy- 3 Peaks Challenge

Our wonderful Corporate supporters, Omnia Consulting is a dynamic company all about inclusivity. They decided to take part in a team building challenge and recognising that local Charities have really suffered during the COVID-19 Pandemic they wanted to give something back. Rowans Hospice Charity is both proud and grateful to have been chosen.

Fourteen members of staff (that is over half of their workforce!) with a range of fitness abilities from beginner to ex-Army member decided to take on the grueling ‘3 Peaks Challenge’ where they would climb the three highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales in just 24 hours.

When we asked Omnia why they decided to do the challenge they told us “It was a chance to do something together, the team can be quite isolated, especially as more often or not they are out on site alone working.  We wanted to arrange something where everyone could be together.”

They went on to tell us about their drive for the challenge, “One of the drives, as we mentioned, was doing a challenge, together, as a group. The other drive and neither drive overpowered one more than the other, was to raise funds for a local charity. Local charities have really suffered in the last 18 months and we wanted to give something back to one in our area. Rowans Hospice Charity was voted as the winner as it is a Charity close to a lot of our employee’s hearts and everyone knew of the work you do.”

Being used to having to be adaptive in their job, the team only gave themselves seven weeks to prepare for the tough challenge ahead, which was not very long at all.  Although there are some companies who will prepare and plan the challenge for you, the team decided they wanted to plan the entire challenge themselves as crucially this would mean more funds would be given to the Charity. They planned the entire challenge themselves from travel arrangements through to accommodation.

Although part of the challenge was to complete the 3 Peaks within 24 hours, as the group had such mixed abilities, the main focus was to enjoy the challenge and finish it safely. They felt this was going to be a really good challenge to take on as they had to support one another despite their range of fitness levels.

Talking about the challenge itself we asked the team, which mountain they found the hardest. The answer was a resounding ‘Scafell Pike’, they said “it might have been the shortest and smallest mountain, but we climbed it at night time. Everyone was getting tired and the team morale dropped.” Despite the struggles with the night time climb, the team pushed on to their last mountain climb, which was easily everyone’s favourite as the end and that wonderful sense of achievement was in sight.

Finally, we asked the team if they had any tips for any other fundraisers looking to take on a challenge. Their advice would be to prepare as much as you can and as some members of the team found the challenge more difficult than they had anticipated, they would recommend that you do not underestimate the challenge you are taking on.

Thank you so much to everyone at Omnia who took part in the 3 Peaks Challenge and to everyone who sponsored and donated to the team. Your support means the team have raised an incredible £3242.10 for Rowans Hospice Charity and the future of local Hospice care.