There are many benefits to boxing; it builds physical and mental resilience as well as confidence among participants. For the RAF Boxing team, it also helps its members to create and sustain connections across the Air Force.
The RAF Association has supported RAF Boxing through its RAF grants programme for a number of years. In return, RAF Boxing continue to fundraise for the Association as well as take on challenges which will help improve their physical and mental conditioning.
Organised by RAF Boxing Association Executive Secretary Squadron Leader Joel Sweeney, the team chose to take on the National Three Peaks Challenge, tackling Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon. The challenge included 23 miles of hiking up 3,408m of elevation and 450 miles of driving, all within 24 hours!
Starting the challenge at 10am on Saturday 18 May, the immediate realisation sank in for some of the team that this was going to be a much tougher challenge than they had expected.
After a quick stop for photos and sightseeing at the top of Ben Nevis, they were back down in times ranging from four to five hours before the long drive to Scafell Pike.
Best recovery efforts were made with massage guns, electrolytes and jam sandwiches a plenty and at 9:55pm, the team began the second ascent. A turn in weather at the summit resulted in extremely strong winds but after getting back on schedule, the team made it down in times from three to four hours.
The group travelled to Snowdon through the early hours of the morning with blisters forming and muscles beginning to seize up. They began to climb up Snowdon at 6:30am and, fuelled by sugar and caffeine, they reached the summit of the third peak around 23 hours after the challenge started.
Despite various hurdles along the way, the team raised more than £3,400 for the RAF Association's vital welfare work.
