At 40 years old, Laura from the Wirral is about to take on one of the UK’s toughest endurance feats – the Three Peaks Challenge – all in the name of hope, healing, and the power of recovery.
For the past five years, Laura has been supported by Wirral Ways on her recovery journey. Now, she’s tackling Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Yr Wyddfa – the three highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales – in under 24 hours. That’s over 23 miles of hiking, more than 3,000 metres of ascent, and hours of travel between the peaks. It’s no small feat – but Laura’s not doing this just for the physical challenge.
“Every step represents something I’ve overcome,” Laura explains. “I want to prove to myself that I’m capable of more than I ever thought – physically and mentally. And I want to show others that no matter where you’ve been, you can move forward when you have an end goal in focus.”
Training hasn’t been easy. Laura’s been pushing herself for months, often on dark mornings and rainy evenings when giving up would have been the easier option.
“The hardest part has been staying consistent,” she says. “Showing up when I didn’t feel like it – when I was tired, when I was doubting myself – that’s when it mattered most. It’s been a proper battle between comfort and commitment.”
For Laura, recovery isn’t just about stopping – it’s about starting again.
“Recovery gave me my life back with my family and friends. It helped me learn who I am again. It’s the foundation of everything good I have now – and I’m never going to take that for granted again.”
Laura chose to fundraise for Wirral Ways as a way to give back to the service that’s been a consistent support through every up and down.
“Wirral Ways don’t just support my recovery – they’ve walked beside me every step of the way,” she says. “They meet people where they’re at and help them build something better, with no judgement. I wouldn’t be where I am without people like them – and especially my keyworker Katie.”
Laura’s challenge is a reminder that recovery isn’t just about leaving something behind – it’s about building something new. With grit, support, and a clear goal, incredible things are possible.
We wish Laura all the best ahead of her challenge, we’re behind her every step of the way. If you want to support Laura and sponsor her on her challenge, you can donate via her JustGiving page here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/3-peaks-challenge-helping-those-with-addiction-issues
