The father, wife and sister of a young man who tragically lost his life to meningitis took part in the ambitious Three Peaks Challenge
Terry Benbow was just 30, when he contracted and tragically died from bacterial meningitis in 2014. His wife, Mandi originally from Nashville in the United States, father David and younger sister Emily chose to take part in the ambitious Three Peaks Challenge, in Terry’s memory because of his love of the outdoors.
The infamous Three Peaks Challenge consists of climbing the highest mountains in Wales, Scotland and England within 36 hours, and involves 19 hours of hiking, ascending to 2,932 metres. Through taking part in the challenge, Terry’s family have raised almost £3,000 for Meningitis Now in his name.
Terry’s family also chose to use the hike to scatter his remains, for very personal reasons.
His wife Mandi said:
“Terry loved visiting Snowden as a child and later as an adult and although he was never able to visit Scafell Pike or Ben Nevis, scattering his ashes from these peaks seemed an appropriate way to introduce him to two mountains he would have loved to have climbed."
“Although the hike was a huge undertaking, for his family, it was a way to remember Terry through taking part in something he would have truly enjoyed.”
Mandi said:
“The weekend was tougher than I had imagined both physically and emotionally, but I am so happy to have had the opportunity to have completed the challenge and I know that Terry would have loved the idea of having his ashes scattered in this way.
“I met some amazing and inspirational people and would highly recommend the challenge to anyone considering it.”
