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Three Peaks for charity
Kate, the Princess of Wales, completed the National Three Peaks Challenge over 24 hours, climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in Wales to raise money for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
“The Princess of Wales, 44, shared a picture of herself taking on the National Three Peaks Challenge Sunday”
In a message shared with her supporters, she wrote, “Cancer doesn’t just affect the body. It changes how you think and feel and profoundly affects every aspect of life.”
The challenge is described as an endurance event that involves climbing the highest peaks in Scotland, England, and Wales, and the hike covers 23 miles with an ascent of 10,052 feet.
The Princess said she took on the trek “not simply as a physical endeavour but as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back,” and she linked the effort to raising awareness for “the deeper impact of serious illness and the importance of holistic healthcare.”
Family, route support
Multiple outlets said the Princess of Wales tackled the Three Peaks Challenge solo, with support along the route from Mountain Rescue, and she was greeted at the end by Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, along with Carole and Michael Middleton and her brother James.
The BBC said she was met at the completion of the challenge in Wales by members of her family including “the Prince of Wales, her three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, and her brother James.”
The Independent reported that Kensington Palace indicated the expedition marked a royal first, with the princess being the first member of the Royal Family to complete the demanding challenge.
In her social media message, she also emphasized staying grounded during the experience, writing, “It is about knowing how to stay grounded, connected and present, no matter the terrain, or landscape you are walking through.”
Holistic care at stake
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity said donations raised by the Princess of Wales would support the development of a new center for holistic wellbeing and recovery and the creation of a specialist program for “transforming access to holistic care, alongside clinical treatment” for patients across the UK.
“helping to transform access to, and understanding of, holistic care that will enhance recovery and healing for patients across the UK”
The BBC said the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity launched a fundraising page for the princess’s walk that would “support more people with cancer to benefit from holistic care,” tying the trek directly to access to supportive treatment.
In a statement carried by the Independent, Dame Cally Palmer, chief executive of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said, “The princess’s commitment to The Royal Marsden stems from a deep empathy for those facing similar challenges, and we are immensely grateful for this generous support.”
The Independent also said the money raised would be used to help more people with cancer benefit from holistic care and support research into how holistic care can work alongside clinical cancer treatments, with the goal of creating a blueprint for change so supportive care becomes a standard part of cancer treatment nationally.
