TJ driver completes 3 Peaks Challenge!

TJ Driver and Army Veteran Andy Weir took part in the 3 Peak Challenge last weekend, completing the gruelling challenge in 23 hours 50 minutes! He took part to help raise money for AMBUSH Veteran Adventures, a Community Interest Company that provides adventurous and woodland management training to serving and veteran personnel of the British armed forces and blue light services.

AMBUSH also welcomes other organisations and groups such as school clubs to come along for military experience training. The aim is to bring people together for camaraderie and goal setting that promotes physical and mental wellbeing alongside veteran instructors, peers and mentors. They also run a daily hub for advice and referral to assist people with any issues they may face after Service. 

The Challenge involved climbing the three highest peaks in the UK – Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in Wales. Ben Nevis stands at 1,344m, Snowdon at 1.085m and Scafell Pike at 978m. The aim was to complete the entire challenge in 24 hours, which they achieved. This is particularly tough considering that there are over 440 road miles to travel between the three peaks!

Andy took part in the challenge on 9-10 March alongside three other veterans and with the help of four volunteers who drove the participants from one peak to the next and provided general assistance throughout the challenge.

Andy, who has worked as a driver for TJ since 2015, said: “The Challenge was very tough both physically and mentally, but we pushed through to the end. The weather was challenging in itself; on Ben Nevis peak it was -9 with a wind chill of -15 and 35mph winds! It was snowy and icy on all three peaks but it didn’t deter us and we completed it in under 24 hours which was the aim, so we’re very happy.”

TJ Waste signed up to sponsor the event, providing valuable funds towards this great cause. TJ is dedicated to providing support and sponsorship to worthy causes and has done so regularly over the years. Last June, TJ sponsored Worthing Armed Forces Day, providing vital support for the event, which was organised by Worthing Veterans Association.

In 2021, TJ signed the Armed Forces Covenant, demonstrating our commitment to supporting Armed Forces personnel, reservists, veterans and their families, and aligning our values with those of the covenant. We actively encourage applications from veterans and reservists in a bid to provide job opportunities to this valued community. 

Andy said: “In 2006, one of my army colleagues died in Afghanistan, so the following year a group of us decided to climb Ben Nevis in his memory. Then in 2012, we climbed Snowdon for a company day out, so I do have some experience of these peaks even if it was some time ago!”

Andy served in the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment from 2003 – 2013. He went on operations in Northern Ireland ii 2004, Iraq in 2005, Afghanistan in 2008, the Falkland Islands in 2009 and Afghanistan again in 2010/11. 

He added: “My company formed part of the Queen’s Guard for the opening of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh in 2004, and we were also selected for the Queen’s Armed Forces Diamond Jubilee Parade through Windsor and Windsor Castle.”

It’s not too late to support Andy and the rest of the team on their fundraising mission – please visit the Go Fund Me page to make a donation. They’re aiming to raise £3,500, which will be used to continue supporting veterans and their families, and to fund adventure training for disabled veterans, to enable them to get more involved. They’re not far off their target, so please donate if you can!

TJ Waste Commercial Director Luke Haskell said: “Huge congratulations to Andy for successfully completing this mammoth challenge! We truly value the Armed Forces and Veterans and all they do. We’re always keen to support in any way we can and we hope the sponsorship we provided will help them reach their target. Well done to all who took part!”

Read about other organisations TJ has supported recently with the provision of sponsorship and donations…