Will climbs every Welsh mountain in only three weeks
A SUPERFIT 31 year old has become the first person to run every mountain in Wales across three weeks – all while spending his nights in a tent.
Will Renwick from Llancarfan, near Rhoose in the Vale of Glamorgan, started his 189-peak hike from Swansea Observatory and ended it at the other end of the nation, after 500 miles of running later, in Conwy.
As a result, Will has now raised more than £11,000 for Mind Over Mountains, smashing his original target of £6,500.
He said his favourite part of the run was up Plynlimon in Mid Wales, because it was the point he realised he could complete the challenge.
But it wasn’t plain sailing at all, and on the second day Will even thought about ditching the project.
He said: “I almost dropped out just because I picked up huge blisters and had picked up some sort of ligament damage in my ankle.”
Will battled on, only to face treacherous weather as he reached the northern part of his journey.
But there was one turning point where the kindness of strangers gave him a surge of motivation.
It was around Berwyn Mountains in Llandrillo, when Will had been in the wilderness for four days without seeing a shop, pub or cafe to restock food supplies or charge his phone.
“Out of the blue I got an Instagram message from someone saying; ‘Hi Will, looks like you’re coming past our farm, knock on our door if you want a cup of tea or anything,’” he recalled.
“So I messaged them and said ‘Is there any chance I could charge my phone overnight?’ and they said, ‘Do you know what, we’ve got a caravan, why don’t you stay and we’ve got soup on the go.’
“I got a meal and a packed lunch in the morning after two weeks without a bed.
“Things like that just took me from a really low point to a massive high and, ultimately, acts of generosity got me through the whole thing.”
Will, who is also president of Ramblers Cymru, explained he chose to raise the money for Mind Over Mountains because of his love of the outdoors and what it can do for mental health.
Mind Over Mountains is a small charity that provides outdoor experiences for people going through low points through trips and weekend breaks and introduce people to councillors while on the walks.
Will said: “They’re not just changing lives but they’re saving lives.
“My girlfriend actually rang me a couple of nights before finishing the challenge.
“She said to me that she was so proud of me seeing the fundraising total go up, it made her think of one of her friends who took his own life a few years ago.
“She wondered if he had had access to the kind of care and support that Mind Over Mountains provide, maybe he would still be with us today.”
Will added he was very grateful to everyone who’s helped him along the way and has donated so far.