Stuart’s MUCH MORE THAN a Three Peaks Challenge!

Stuart

When your dad is a materials technologist it’s perhaps no surprise that he might ask you to help him test new types of water-proof fabrics, life rafts, and life jackets by jumping from high diving boards into cold swimming pools. At the age of 10!

This is one of the great experiences Stuart Beeston tells us about, when he is describing his “genius” dad, Malcolm. It begins to explain some of the reason why Stuart has become, it’s fair to say, an adventurer, in his adult life.

The reason Stuart is talking to us is that dad, Malcolm, was supported by our Hospice at Home team in the last week of his life and, though it was only for a short period of time, he really cannot speak highly enough about the care his dad received

Malcolm had said,

“I don’t need to go to heaven; I’ve got my angels here.”

It’s a heartfelt sentiment which has stayed with Stuart and why he’s now going to embark on a sensational Much More Than A Three Peaks Challenge in September this year.

Malcolm as a young man

Malcolm was Stuart’s idol growing up. Materials technology had seen him build a career via Littlewoods, Birkenhead’s Beaufort air sea equipment, subsequently Survitec (global suppliers of marine survival products), into carbon fibres and eventually his own very successful business based in Doncaster.

Loving to travel, Malcolm and Stuart’s mum, Brenda, had been all over the World. They’d seen most of the USA, Canada, the Far East and Europe, although their favourite was undoubtedly Italy. With fine dining and good food always on the agenda, Malcolm’s was a life well lived.

Stuart describes the Hospice at Home team who had supported his dad and how he wants to thank them,

Malcolm with Stuart’s mum, Brenda

“My dad deserved the best care and that’s exactly what he got. He hadn’t been one for the doctor so when we knew that his cancer was at a late stage, we honoured his wish to die at home.

Their first visit was on a Saturday and within a couple of hours of being assessed by the hospice health care assistant’s there was an appropriate bed, supplied by MedEquip, set up.

On Monday dad rallied and was eating hot and sour soup from a Chinese banquet we ordered to have together. Over the next couple of days his condition deteriorated, and we knew it was a matter of time.

The staff were so attentive, and by Thursday his passing was peaceful and dignified.

I resolved almost straightaway that I wanted to do something special in memory of my beloved dad and to raise some funds for the awesome people at Wirral Hospice St John’s.

So, at dawn on 29^th August this year, I’m going to be at the summit of Ben Nevis in Scotland setting off on a mammoth 1000kilometre, plus, journey on foot, bike and kayak. My route will take me south from Scotland, through glasgow to Edinburgh, then down and across the north of England, via mountain, road, loch, sea, and canal, then over Scafell Pike in the Lake District and onwards towards Bridlington on the east coast.

Then, back west via the Leeds/Liverpool canal and then a final bike ride over to Snowdon with a target of finishing at the peak of Snowdon at dusk hopefully around the 14^th September.

It’s the Three Peaks Challenge, with knobs on!”

Stuart’s well equipped for it. He’s already led mammoth challenges like Kilimanjaro, the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, several trips into the Himalayas, and other adventure including the deserts and jungles around the globe. He’s a member of British Cycling, and a Mountain Leader who is trained, and trains others, for rock climbing, mountain biking and he’s a rope rescue specialist.

Wow. Incredible!

Stuart’s wife, Tracey, and daughter, Sophie, will be his support team for the trip, while his older daughter Jess will also be supporting with the ongoing administration back home.

Tracey will be handling logistics and accommodation, making sure the van is ready at each stop /start destination with bike, kayak, footwear and appropriate clothing at the ready.

Sophie is going to join Stuart for some of the challenges (before she heads back to Uni in September) and will be chronicling with camera phone and social media her dad’s progress.

We’ll be keeping an eye out and sharing Stuart’s Much More Than A Three Peaks Challenge as it progresses later in the year but for now we’d just like to say,

Best of British, Stuart. We’re with you all the way!

If you’d like to sponsor Stuart to help him raise those vital funds for Wirral Hospice St John’s in memory of his dad, Malcolm, who was cared for and supported by our Hospice at Home team, please visit www.justgiving.com/page/stuartbeeston

Stuart and the hospice will be eternally grateful.