Gym equipment lugged up mountain for charity

The group has raised more than £5,000 so far

More than 200 people from a fitness group and their families have taken part in a charity challenge to lug 1680kg of gym equipment to the top of Pen y Fan and back again.

Women from Commando Bootcamp, based near Bristol in Yate, South Gloucestershire, took part in the ascent with family members on Saturday in aid of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Bristol's Southmead Hospital.

They have previously taken part in several challenges, including a half marathon while carrying white goods in aid of the homeless in 2024.

Bootcamp member Sian Donoghue said the latest challenge had raised more than £5,000 for the unit, which had helped look after her son Jack when he was born at 23 weeks old.

The challenge was in aid of the neonatal intensive care ward at Southmead Hospital

"He was quite premature and it was quite a shock to everybody," she said of her son, who spent two months in the NICU before being allowed home, but sadly later died.

"That was out of everyone's control and since [then] everybody has been so supportive," she said.

Ms Donoghue said raising money for the unit had been "emotional", especially as other women in the bootcamp had also spent time with their children there.

"Everything that goes on, it's incredible because I don't think people see, unless you've been in there, you don't see what NICU does for people."

She added: "It's not just the fact that they are incredible to your child.

"They're incredible to any family member that's in there. The nurses and doctors become your family," she said.

"All the little things that you never see, so all the things that comfort a baby, they've got it all and that all has to come from somewhere and the only way they really get it is by fundraising," she added.

A total of 210 people took part in the challenge on Saturday

Ms Donoghue said she had joined the group after the Covid-19 pandemic and they had since raised about £46,000 for local charitable causes over the past four years.

Despite the weather being "horrendous" for their challenge, Ms Donoghue said it had been "amazing" to see everyone come together.

"The amount of people that were donating, it was really lovely," she said.