Mary Lamb, a 65-year-old woman from Wirral, has achieved the extraordinary feat of conquering the three highest peaks in the UK – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon – all while in her wheelchair. This grueling three-day challenge saw Mary face freezing temperatures, gale-force winds, and driving rain, along with treacherous terrain that broke her specially adapted trike several times. Despite the immense physical and mental challenges, Mary persevered, fueled by her desire to give someone else the chance to experience the life-changing support of an assistance dog.
Mary, who has been in a wheelchair since 2007 due to a rare genetic condition, relies on her assistance dog, Sheldon, for everything from daily tasks like washing and shopping to providing companionship and support. She credits Dogs for Good, the charity that provides these life-changing canine companions, for giving her back her independence.
The challenge, which took place over June 12, 13, and 14, saw Mary and her “dream team” – composed of friends, family, and British Army volunteers – battling the elements. They drove to each mountain in a Skoda Kodiaq SUV, relying on the expertise of the Army personnel, led by Capt James Martin of the Royal Engineers, and Mountain Leader Sgt Chris Gooch, from the Mercian Regiment.
“Honest to God, I don’t know how I got through it,” said Mary. “I was told it couldn’t be done and so I was just going to do it and that was all there was to it. You just push on through. If I say I’m going to do something, I’ll do it!”
The team faced a series of setbacks, including a 15-hour climb to the top of Ben Nevis, followed by a grueling drive through the night to reach Scafell Pike. Exhaustion and a stomach bug swept through the group, yet they pressed on.
On Scafell Pike, Mary found herself battling the elements. “At the top of Scafell you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. It was raining, there was sleet, one of the guys got knocked off his feet by the wind and another had a boulder fall on his leg,” she recalled.
Mary’s determination faltered briefly as she faced the harsh conditions. “I was cold. The lads said I was ‘Army cold’ and believe you me, you don’t want that! I started shivering and shaking and behind me the lads were quite concerned especially when I went quiet because I never shut up! It was horrible and a tough moment. As I was coming down the mountain I was thinking to myself ‘I don’t like this! I wish I hadn’t done it’.“
The team’s concern reached a peak when they realized Mary was dangerously close to hypothermia. “They told me afterwards that they weren’t happy and that I was 10mins away from hypothermia and them stopping the challenge, but I was determined to carry on. I was going to finish no matter what,” said Mary.
With the support of her team, Mary persevered, eventually reaching the summit of Snowdon, the final mountain on her list. Throughout the challenge, Mary was met with waves of encouragement from fellow walkers. “We met lots of people coming down the mountain saying ‘go on Mary!’ People cheered and clapped us. It was amazing. They were saying ‘bloody hell, if you can do it, I can do it,” she recounted.
Mary, who has raised over £10,000 for Dogs for Good, is now recovering at home, already planning her next charity fundraiser. “The whole experience has been like a dream and I’ll never forget it,” she shared.
