District nursing team conquer Yorkshire Three Peaks and raise £1,680 for Mersey Cares
23 September 2026
Colleagues from our Croxteth and Norris Green district nursing team completed the famous Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge - and have raised an incredible amount for Mersey Cares along the way!
A team of dedicated district nurses swapped their uniforms for walking boots and took on one of the UK's toughest charity challenges, raising an incredible £1,680 for Mersey Cares.
The Croxteth and Norris Green district nurses, Lynne Morgan, Diane Neill, Sophie McKenna, Jess Smith and Emma Pierce took on the famous Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, tackling 24 miles of rugged terrain and climbing the iconic peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.
The challenge was no small feat. Battling steep ascents, relentless rain and aching legs, the team pushed themselves to their physical and mental limits over a gruelling 12.5 hours.
The calm before the storm
Always up for special meet-up, the colleagues decided to make an extended weekend of it and so booked into a cosy Yorkshire Dales lodge ahead of their big climb. Before they donned their cagoules and packed the blister plasters, they enjoyed a cosy evening, calming any pre-challenge nerves – all kitted out in matching team pyjamas!
With rain forecast, it was the most definitely the calm before the storm.
When they arrived at the starting line on Saturday 5 September, coinciding with International Day of Charity and the third anniversary of Mersey Cares' official launch, participants were welcomed by a group of mountain leaders from Overlimits, headed up by Phil Lee, who supports all of our Yorkshire Three Peaks challenges.
The group set off under looming, heavy skies, unaware of the challenging conditions ahead. The weekend was marked by a four-hour spell of 'all-directions' rain, which made the steep terrain even more challenging – and a real test of endurance.
"We laughed, cried, and sang our way through"
The 24-mile trek, which includes climbing the famous three peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough, pushed the nurses to their absolute physical and mental limits over a gruelling 12.5 hour period.
"Oh, it was horrendous, torrential rain - I was wet to the bones," one of the team shared.
“We laughed, cried, and sang our way through, the experience was amazing, but my God, it was tough. It felt like being on the Stairmaster in the gym for 12 hours straight!”
An incredible achievement
Emma recalled the final stretch where the team were being pushed to their limits: "It was so challenging,” she said.
"When you come down the last peak, you’ve hit like 11 hours 45 minutes, and then you’ve still got a four-mile walk back to the start tent which absolutely finished me off – we were in real pain by this point. There were a LOT of tears!"
Reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster, Diane said: "What a day! We set off with a spring in our step and no clue of the intensity of the challenge that lay ahead.”
“The miles and climbs really tested our strength, stamina, and determination, but it was the endless support and encouragement from each other that made it possible. We laughed and cried through amazing views, sunshine, and rain. Each one of us finished the day achieving something incredible, and it truly was a day we will never forget!"
An unbelievable buzz for a brilliant cause
Despite the challenging circumstances and demands of the course, the team's tight bond and unstoppable spirits ultimately got them through.
As the team collectively put it:
"The feeling at the end was something else. Such a great achievement and amazing to raise so much money for Mersey Cares. The pride and the buzz at the end was unbelievable.”
The £1,680 raised by the nurses will support Mersey Cares to fund a range of exciting and meaningful projects that fall outside traditional NHS provision. These funds allow the charity to invest in recovery initiatives and mental health and well-being projects, making a tangible, valuable difference to people across our local communities.
Thank you so much Diane, Sophie, Jess, Emma and Lynne – you are all amazing – and to everyone who supported them with kind donations - we couldn’t do what we do without you.
Want to follow in their footsteps and get involved?
We have fundraisers taking place throughout the year ranging from half marathons and Skydives to exciting local events and team challenges like Tough Mudder and the Inflatable Challenge. We even have an incredible Northern Lights Trek to Iceland!
Whether you're looking to challenge yourself, bring friends together or organise a team-building experience with colleagues, there are plenty of ways to support Mersey Cares.
Find out more about our fundraising challenges and register below:
