A group of teenagers have completed a gruelling 14 hour, 71.5 mile all-terrain running challenge to the highest point in Wales for charity.
The students from Ellesmere College completed a relay run from the College in north Shropshire to the summit of Yr Wyddfa /Snowdon on Sunday (JUN 21), raising funds for the Inspire Children and Youth Trust.
A total of 19 students, from Year 11 to 13, and nine members of staff – including Headmaster Jonathan Shaw – left the school gates at 4am, ran through the Welsh countryside, and reached the summit of the mountain at 6pm.
The challenge is an annual fundraising event completed by students at the school since 1999 – and this year they hope to raise £1000 for the charity.
Beth Davies, Teacher of PE and Head of Netball at Ellesmere College, helped to organise it and took part.
She said: “The Snowdon Run continues to be one of Ellesmere College’s most treasured traditions. The commitment shown by every student and staff member involved was outstanding, and the successful completion of the challenge was a testament to the determination and camaraderie that defines the Ellesmere College community.
“Congratulations to all who took part in making this year’s Snowdon Run such a memorable success – the warm weather added an extra challenge, but spirits remained high throughout the day and we certainly made the most of the longest day of the year!
“Some staff from College travelled to Snowdon to cheer on the participants and some even joined in the final ascent of the mountain too. In addition, members of one student’s family met the group on the mountain, providing a welcome boost to morale during the final stages of the challenge and it was a joyous occasion
“We were all very well looked after by the supporters too, with much-appreciated refreshments, including ice lollies, which proved the perfect reward after a long day of running and walking in the summer heat.”
The challenge includes running on the road and cross-country, while traversing mossy areas and rivers. It is split into 28 legs and participants are equipped with a map and compass.
Last year a team of 27 people took 11.5 hours to get to the bottom of the Pen Y Pass but they were unable to run up Snowdon due to inclement weather.
They raised £1,408 for Pancreatic Cancer UK – a disease that claimed the life of former Ellesmere College Headmaster Brendan Wignall in January 2024.
This year they chose to raise money for Inspire Children and Youth Trust after students visited the charitable school in South Africa as part of a senior girls hockey and netball tour.
Beth added: “While in South Africa the girls saw the appeal for money to go towards a tractor, so the school could grow crops on the farm to feed the children.
“They were very touched by this trip and decided they wanted to help the school buy a tractor, so chose this charity for this year’s challenge.”
Anyone can donate by visiting https://www.givengain.com/project/beth-raising-funds-for-inspire-children-and-youth-trust-125179.
During Covid the Snowdon Run was completed as a mass participation event completed on the Strava exercise app, but it has taken place as normal every other year.
The record time for completing the Snowdon Run challenge stands at 10 hours and 48 minutes and over the years it has raised money for the Chernobyl Continuity, a charity helping children from Belarus, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), Cancer Research UK and more.
For more information about Ellesmere College visit www.ellesmere.com.
