Fundraising for Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity!!!

In April/May 2025 weather dependant on exact date, 11-year-old Finn Brown (alongside his dad), will tackle the National 3 Peaks Challenge over 3 days, raising money for Glasgow’s Children’s Hospital Charity. For those who don’t know, this challenge involves climbing the 3 highest peaks in the UK, across Scotland (Ben Nevis), England (Scafell Pike) and Wales (Snowdon), this challenge is usually done in 24 hours but given Finn’s age we are allowing up to 3 days to give him additional time to rest in between if required. Ben Nevis the biggest of the 3 and the highest point in the UK is to be the starting point, followed by Scafell Pike in the Lake District and finishing off in Wales with Snowdon.

Finn’s motivation to complete this challenge came from his love to help others. Over the past 5 years, Finn has been really dedicated to helping others, with supporting local charities such as Lifesavers Scotland and Coatbridge Community Foodbank, however after growing his hair to help little girls who through illness had lost their own hair and raising £1200 of vital funds for Little Lady Locks to make the hair systems and wigs and already hiking Ben Lomond for GCHC his motivation and determination to make a difference grew, this, twinned with his love for rugby and his favourite team The Glasgow Warriors who work alongside and also raise vital funds for Glasgow’s Children’s Hospital Charity.

GCHC fundraise to ensure that every baby, child and young person treated at Scotland’s largest children’s hospital receives the extra special care they deserve. They put the children, families and staff they support at the hospital at the heart of everything they do by raising funds to help those who tirelessly care for and nurture young lives at their most vulnerable. With your help, they can fund life changing projects and services for the children and families treated, this might come in the form of Medical Equipment & Research, Hospital Play Programmes (such as movies in the hospitals customer made MediCinema to Clowndoctor visits), as well as providing support for their Families.

After getting a taste of hill walking by on a spur of the moment whim requesting to “climb a mountain” with a few days’ notice all to raise “a wee bit of money” for GCHC(£430), Finn set his sights on Nevis but then decided to be more adventurous and aim to complete the mammoth challenge that is the National 3 peaks and would love to reach £5,000 sponsorship to help this amazing charity and the families and patients it supports!!

The Challenge:

The national 3 peaks challenge is the most popular mountain challenge in the UK. It is one of the most difficult challenges which involves climbing the 3 highest mountains in the UK. It typically includes driving between the 3 mountains and whilst it is a long and arduous walk, the challenge can be physically demanding with weather conditions changing quickly. The terrain is challenging in parts with a success rate of less than 40% meaning we need to plan and prepare thoroughly to ensure he is successful. Whilst undertaking this challenge they will climb nearly 10,000ft and walk around 23 miles in the process.

The hills:

Nevis: 4, 412ft – Scotland & UK’s highest Mountain – The tallest, longest and arguably hardest of the National 3 Peaks. With an elevation of 1,344m above sea level it rises high above Fort William on the western coast of the Highlands. The path is steep and rocky, with loose gravel and uneven footing. The Scottish weather is changeable and can rapidly change making the ascent to the peak challenging and very exposed to the elements such as snow and fog even in summer.

Scafell Pike: 3, 209ft – England’s highest mountain – England's tallest peak, standing at 3,209 feet (978 metres) above sea level, provides a tough, steep hike which involves scrambling over hard terrain. This climb features rugged terrain with boulders and scree, particularly on the final stretch. Poor Visibility can be poor in bad weather and conditions underfoot can be wet and muddy.

Snowdon: 3,560ft – Wales’ highest mountain – The varied terrain including well defined paths, rocky sections with some slopes, however higher up is steep and more challenging. Again, weather can change quickly causing poor visibility and low temperatures.

Logistics:

first and foremost, organising the logistics and training for what is a mammoth challenge for any adult never mind for an 11-year-old.

The first thing to think of was transport, being fulfilled by Siobhan (his mum), organising the logistics is a challenge, with approximately 800 miles of driving, a feat in itself.

Mental Preparation: How do we prepare an 11-year-old for the challenge?? Well, training starts now, with lots of walking, we will be heading to Tinto shortly followed by starting to tick off as many of the Munro’s as humanly possible in a 6-month period and Finn realising the huge challenge he has ahead of him (he has yet to realise this!). The promise of snacks and good food will keep Finn going, but we will work on a wee surprise for him for when he completes his challenge.

About Finn:

Finn is an 11 year old boy who loves all things rugby related, he is inspired by his heroes the Glasgow Warriors (URC Champions 2023/24) and Scotland Rugby, but also by those around him(his coaches, team mates and senior players) at his local rugby club Waysiders Drumpellier RFC where he loves to pull on his jersey and play with pride and passion for his club and team. He is an 11-year-old who embodies kindness and courage, he will stand up for his classmates and helps our club to promote the rugby ethos and way of life.

His passion for rugby and playing guitar demonstrates that Finn is a diverse and creative boy, his ability to balance sport and creativity makes for an interesting time when around Finn. There is always a catchy song on when Finn is around, being serenaded by this kid who cannot sing a note makes for lots of laughter in the house!

Finn is empathetic and understanding and is willing to speak up for those who can’t but he has a fun and adventurous side with a drop of mischief mixed in too, making him an all-round good kid! He inspires his friends, family and those around him to do better through small acts of kindness as he demonstrates humility and love in everyday situations.

As his parents, we couldn’t be prouder of the person that Finn is turning into. Watching him group into a kind and courageous young person with his willingness to help others and his determination to make things better for others by challenging himself. It is clear to us that Finn will make the world a better place and he will have a positive impact on those around him.

From the Warriors!!

For the second year running, the latest BKT United Rugby Championship winners and European Champions Cup side, Glasgow Warriors, are undertaking a season-wide fundraising campaign for the, Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity.

This time around the club is setting out to achieve an ambitious target, raising more than £85,000 for the charity after the whopping £53,971 was donated in 2023/24, in the first year of the Fighting for our Families campaign.

Throughout the season, the club along with Leidos, the title sponsor of the annual Plaster It Purple fixture, grassroots rugby clubs -who contributed more than £20,000 to last season's total- supporters, players, and colleagues will be coming together through a variety of events and initiatives to raise valuable funds for the hospital, with the aim of giving young people across Scotland the very best services and care possible.

What can you do to help?

Get a bake sale on, go shake a bucket at Tesco, ASDA etc, share the life out of this page, post it in your works internal sites, share on social media, speak to your bosses and see if they can donate, just raise awareness for Finn's most epic challenge to date, I dread to think what he'll want to do next year!!!!