Despite Having a Terrible Fear of Heights, a 44-Year-Old Dad From England Is Set to Scale 15 Snowdonia Peaks in 24 Hours

A father from North Shields has taken up a new hobby as a means of supporting a greater cause. Rick Burns is all set to embark on his climbing adventure scaling a total of 15 peaks in Snowdonia ranging above 3,000 feet within a time span of 24 hours. 

Apart from overcoming his personal fear, the challenging mission taken is an initiative to raise funds for Sturge Weber UK. The charity supports people suffering from rare genetic conditions. Let us find out the noble cause that challenged a father to expose himself to extreme conditions.

The petrifying Welsh 3000 climbing challenge 

A father of four, 44-year-old Rick Burns has grabbed the world championship title in martial arts 14 times and has a sixth Dan Black Belt in karate under his possession. However, the Welsh 3,000 challenge led him to come out of his comfort zone. He hopes to complete the climb without the use of any transport within a day. 

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Burns expressed his views about his trail climb with Chronicle Live, “You put me in a cage I’d fight anyone, anywhere, anytime, any place in the world- that’s my comfort zone. But when we did a trial climb of three of the peaks in summer, that was my first experience of what it is we were actually doing. I was petrified.”

The courageous dad of four ventured out of his comfort zone to honor his 17-year-old daughter. She is currently fighting against a rare neurological condition known as Sturge-Weber syndrome.

A challenging journey to the top

Making enough preparations before the actual mission, Burns’ dedication to the challenge has been intense. Traversing outside his area of expertise, he informed that Grib Goch was one of the hardest and most exhaustive routes that spiked his resting heart rate to 180. However, this staggering climb is an attempt to honor those who suffer from the neurological condition.

Fixated on his ultimate goal, Burns has already surpassed the initial fundraising goal of £ 1,000. He has also excelled in accumulating a significant fund, amounting to £2,200. However, he refuses to surrender even after meeting his target and continues to aim at reaching £2500.  

Marie Cavalier, the head of Sturge Weber UK, has emphasized the collective efforts of the other participating dads alongside Burns. Their fundraising attempt will help the charity to provide practical assistance to families in need, making a positive difference in their lives.    

The courageous challenge that Rick Burns engaged himself in, apart from helping to face his fear of heights, serves as a notable example of the extent to which parents are willing to travel for the well-being of their children. This joint effort has been a pillar of support for Sturge Weber UK on its mission to support the children living with the disease.

What do you think about Burns’ efforts to raise funds for the charity?

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