There will be few Egremothians who didn’t know Ian McDonanld – even if they didn’t know that that was his real name, for he was ‘Macca’ to everyone.
His unexpected and untimely death earlier this year sent shock waves throughout the town and beyond. His funeral was as big as any Egremont has seen for many years, and he would, no doubt, have considered it the greatest tribute that the Rugby League Club ran out of beer at his wake. He was, in the truest sense of the word, a ‘real character.’
Twenty-seven of his friends, along with his beloved son, James, and supported by his partner, Joanne, were determined that some good will come out of his tragic death and with each participant having attracted considerable sponsorship for the benefit of The British Heart Foundation, on the 28th and 29th June turned good intentions into actions in a big way, by climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon – all within thirty six hours.
Ben Nevis was the first to be conquered. Leaving ‘ base camp in the early hours of Saturday morning, the twenty-seven began the long trudge to the top through what seemed like Arctic conditions, far removed from the British Summer. There were four feet of snow on Ben Nevis that weekend and the only bird spotted en-route was a snow bunting. All made it safely to the top and back down again, but many wondered just what they had let themselves in for.
It was back on the coach for the long, long journey home, dreaming on the way of hot baths, good food, soggy waterproofs dried out and some sleep. Well, about three hours sleep, prior to putting boots back on to climb Scafell Pike at 4 am! This may have been home territory, but it didn’t feel very hospitable at that time in the morning with horizontal rain and no view of home! After bacon sandwiches at the bottom and the thought that two thirds were done, the weary travellers were on the road again, heading for Wales, with the end in sight.
Snowdon gave the walkers the best welcome: no rain ! It also provided the easiest ascent – almost a walk in the park after what had gone before. At the end, the grins said it all: they had done it.
Some of these people had barely walked up a hill before in ideal conditions, let alone the three highest peaks in Britain in inhospitable weather with little rest or sleep in between.
Planned celebrations on the way home gave way to sleep. There were twenty-seven stiff and creaking bodies during the days that followed but all considered it a small price to pay for an adventure undertaken in the memory of a great friend.
Thanks go the volunteer caterers, the new local Boots The Chemist in Egremont who donated the vital first aid kits, to GBP Limited who provided the coach for the weekend, to Shepleys whose golf day generated not inconsiderable funds for the cause and to all who are too numerous to mention who have made monetary donations to date.
An amount in excess of £10,000 has currently been raised for The British Heart Foundation and donations, big or small, are still being very gratefully received at the web site: justgiving.com/maccascragrats.