FOCUS:
OCCAM’S TREKFEST
Occam’s TrekFest is an
illuminate the laudable efforts of
endurance trekking challenge
the local Mountain Rescue Team to
organised and run by Global
get the feet of all 170 of the 54-mile
Adventure Challenges. Their goal
trekkers in good enough shape to
is to help individuals to realise their set off once again.
ambitions whilst raising money for
UK charities. After hearing about
“After having one team member
the 2015 TrekFest challenge in the drop out at the 48 mile mark on
Brecon Beacons, Occam fielded
doctor’s orders, the remaining
two teams as employees seized
three struggled on through the
the opportunity to stretch their
dawn to the finish, crossing the
legs, test their limits and raise
line at 5.07 am – 20 hrs at a
money for a good cause. It took
respectable average speed of
them no time at all to decide to
2.8 mph – to the rousing cheers
support Cancer Research UK.
from a ‘welcoming’ committee.
Challenge: 54 miles in 24 hours
“The adventure resulted in a failed
knee, four pairs of very bruised and
“After reaching the high point
blistered feet, several packs of used
of Pen-Y-Fan, the highest point
blister plasters and a few metres of
in Snowdonia at 886 metres,
strapping tape, but this was more
a tough climb through 30 mph
than out-weighed by a massive
winds, the first team got into its
sense of achievement. Would the
stride averaging 3.6 mph between team do it again? No comment!”
the 27 and 40-mile markers.
(Grant Williams – Occam)
“As darkness fell they soon found
out that the light of four head
torches did little to pierce the
Brecon night but a good rate of
progress was maintained. The
torches proved more effective
at the rest point in helping to
Challenge: 13 miles in six hours
“As a team of eight we set off
on the shorter 13 mile trek after
cheering on the 54 mile team.
We initially kept a fairly brisk pace
as we enjoyed a picturesque stroll
along the Brecon canals, heading
towards Talybont and arriving
at the seven-mile checkpoint
together and in good spirits.
After a short stop to refill water
bottles and consume a few cereal
bars and sweets, the team split
into smaller groups to complete
the return leg.
“All eight of us made it back to
the TrekFest basecamp within
15 minutes of one another, with
the first group back after a
respectable time of four hours and
30 minutes. We were welcomed
back with a glass of cold bubbly,
Welsh cakes and a tasty buffet
lunch – all very pleased with
our accomplishment and that
we’d raised some money for
a really good cause.”
(Ryan Mazi Thomas – Occam)
St Ives funded entry fees and
matched generous donations from
colleagues and friends, raising
a total in excess of £3,100.