A kind-hearted adventurer has taken his fundraising to new heights after climbing three of the UK’s highest mountains within 24 hours and raising over £1,470 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity.

35-year-old dad of two, Scott Shorthouse, took on the National Three Peaks Challenge, conquering Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon in the space of a day to raise funds and help do more for the hospital’s sick kids.

It’s a challenge Scott had always wanted to tackle, so he bit the bullet and signed up to face the climbs with a group of other solo walkers. Scott wanted to use the opportunity for good and, thinking back to his commutes into work passing the Children’s Hospital, and his friends’ kids who have needed its services in the past, Scott made his decision on who to climb for.

Scott trained hard, spending weekends walking long distances around his local area in Swadlincote. He even took a trip to Wales and climbed Snowdon twice in one morning to push his endurance, which was no mean feat after a previous back injury.

By the time the challenge came around, Scott felt as ready as he could be, but nothing could have prepared him for the weather conditions he was about to face. Scott and his new team-mates scaled Ben Nevis in under five hours, then made the trip to Scafell Pike and made it up and down in just three hours. However, it was Snowdon – the mountain he had trained on and felt most prepared for – that became the most challenging climb.

As Scott and the team made the ascent the weather threw everything at them, from sideways rain and hail to 80 mile-per-hour wind. Scott pushed on, thinking of the hospital and its patients as his motivation, and managed to complete the mountain in three hours and 20 minutes.

Scott said: “Taking on the Three Peaks Challenge was something I’d been dreaming of for a while, and I worked hard to make sure I was fit enough, but nothing could have prepared me for the weather. It was hard work, but the satisfaction of completing that last mountain and knowing that I’d raised money that would help poorly children was so worth it. Plus the views were absolutely stunning and I made new friends along the way.”

Miranda Williams, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “One mountain is enough of a challenge for many people, so to complete the three highest mountains in the UK, with a time limit, is really impressive!

“We are constantly blown away by the lengths – and heights – our supporters go to, to raise money for our hospital. We’re so grateful that Scott chose us – the incredible £1,470 he raised will go on to help us support the poorly children in our care.”