A bit about The Challange
On June 13th, a group of seven friends and former teammates from Old Loughtonians Hockey Club will take on one of the UK’s toughest endurance tests: the National Three Peaks Challenge. Over 24 hours, they’ll climb Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England, and Snowdon in Wales, all in honour of their teammate and friend, Grace.
The group, Faye, Embo, Ogles, Tash, Leiper, Lisa and Chels, have named their challenge the “Purple Three Peaks”, a nod to the colour of their club kit and a reference to a quote from Grace that’s now proudly displayed in their changing room: “I’ll always be purple at heart.”
This isn’t a challenge any of them are taking lightly. Most of the team is more used to flat hockey pitches than mountain trails, and the combination of distance, elevation, and time pressure will push them well outside their comfort zones. But that’s part of the point: to do something hard, together, for something that matters.
Their goal is simple: raise as much as possible for the Grace O’Malley-Kumar Foundation, which supports causes close to Grace’s heart, including youth sport, education, and community projects. It’s a way of continuing the values she lived by, and making sure her legacy has a real, lasting impact.
Looking at the event
The team’s fundraising has already smashed it out of the park, already hitting their goal of over £6,000 raised and more coming in by the day. Every donation goes directly to the Foundation and helps further its work.
This isn’t just about the challenge itself – it’s about showing what a close-knit community can do when it comes together. The Purple Three Peaks team aren’t professional climbers or endurance athletes, but they’re taking on something ambitious with determination, humour, and a huge amount of heart.
You can follow their journey and show your support via their JustGiving page.
Whether the scale of the challenge inspires you, the strength of their friendship, or the cause they’re supporting, every message, donation, and share makes a difference.
