Keen walker Des Lally is aiming to climb Pen y Fan 365 times in a year to raise money for Help for Heroes and Cancer Research.
Des, a mortgage broker from Brecon, is planning to walk to the summit of the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons and back down again on March 26 this year. He then intends to repeat the feat on most days of the year until March 26 2019.
Sometimes, he says, he may tackle Pen y Fan twice in one day because of other times when he may need a few days off for family holiday or if he’s injured.
The fundraising effort is inspired by his parents, both of whom have suffered from cancer. He also wanted to do something for Help for Heroes because his father is an ex-military man.
Des said: “My Mum and Dad have had three different types of cancer between them, and my Dad spent 26 years in the Irish Guards (Army), so that’s the family connection.
“It’s just something I want to do to give a little back.”
The 42-year-old added that people usually tackle the Brecon Beacons once, or take part in a night walk, but he was determined to do something “a little out of the ordinary”.
He added: “This is a commitment by me, and people might buy into that.
“It is something different and unusual. But with what people go through with cancer and in the forces, it is nothing; it’s two hours a day.”
Des says he hopes to raise the profile of the charities as well as making people “stand up and think, do I want to give something towards that?”.
He has already had pledges, including gift aid, totalling more than £2,000 from friends and people who have heard about the challenge. Anyone who would like to sponsor Des can do so by visiting https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DesLally