News

Zambian influence helps to scale the Three Peaks Challenge

(12 April 2006)

A team of six from Durham University have successfully climbed the three highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales, to raise money in aid of Sport in Action – Zambia.

The Three Peaks Challenge involves climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in the Lake District and Snowdon in North Wales in 24 hours. The team completed the challenge in 23 hours led by Rob Vickers, the University Strength & Conditioning Coach. Rob said: “Completing such a gruelling challenge in difficult conditions is down to outstanding team work, in particular climbing Scafell Pike in three hours ten minutes in blustery and snowy conditions. We must thank Enterprise Rent-a-Car for their support by providing us with two vehicles and a driver.” Durham University through their Director of Sport, Dr Peter Warburton, is working in partnership with five other universities to train and place 36 students with Sport in Action - Zambia, over the summer of 2006. Dr Warburton said : “The £2,500 raised from the challenge, in addition to £5,000 raised by the Durham Fun Run, will allow the Sport in Action team to deliver development programmes, workshops for adolescent girls, and run festivals around sport, traditional games and fitness in Lusaka.” Through this work, it is hoped that young people will learn life-skills that enable them to adopt healthy lifestyles and avoid infection from HIV/AIDS. Sport in Action - Zambia is the national pilot for UK Sport’s IDEALS (International Development of Excellence and Leadership through Sport) Advanced Programme, which offers a selected number of students the opportunity to enhance their global awareness and leadership skills. Known as the Wallace Group, the other universities involved in the partnership are Northumbria, Loughborough, Bath, Stirling and UWIC. The aim of the non-governmental sport development organisation is the improvement of peoples’ lives through sport and recreational activities, by working together on approved sport development projects. Sport in Action – Zambia is the first such project.