As the world ponders the ethics of mountaineers leaving a man to die on the slopes of Mount Everest, a group of Christian climbers are preparing for high-altitude challenge that has the gospel rather than personal glory as its goal.
Sydney's Richard Stuart will team up with Matthew Montgomery from the United Kingdom to lead a nine-man contingent up and down the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales in a mere 24 hours.
Team members have had their share of extreme adventures including climbing peaks in the Himalayas and South Africa, as well as trekking the Inca trail and running the London Marathon.
For several members, though, this will be their first serious mountaineering venture.
But team-leader Matthew Montgomery says the "Three Peaks Challenge' is all about service, not glory, with money raised going to funding Mercy Ship services in Africa.
Mercy not glory the goal
Mercy Ships is a global Christian charity which has operated a fleet of hospital ships in developing nations since 1978.
"The Africa Mercy is a ship sailing to Ghana from the United Kingdom this summer to provide free medical care to the Ghanaian people," he says.
"We've decided to donate our money specifically to the ophthalmic theatre on board because around 50% of blindness in sub-Saharan Africa is caused by cataracts and a relatively cheap operation can return sight to those affected."
The mountaineers have been building their fitness level for months with the goal of beginning the challenge on June 24th.
"We'll start at the foot of Ben Nevis, Scotland on at around 2pm," says Richard Stuart, mapping the route in his mind.
"After besting Ben Nevis we will drive down to the Pennines and climb Scafell Pike during the night. After Scafell we’ll rush down to Snowdon, Wales, aiming to finish climbing Snowdon by 2pm on Sunday 25th June."
Christian values inform climbers' ethics
Mr Montgomery says the decision by 40 mountaineers to leave British Britain's David Sharp to die just below Everest's summit while they completed their "climb of a life-time' has posed a number of challenging ethical questions.
"I'm not going to attempt to comment on whether the climbers were right in leaving a man to die alone without offering any assistance," Mr Montgomery says.
"It is very hard to cast judgment on how decisions are made at 8,500 metres and minus forty degrees."
However its charity focus is a key factor that separates this "Three Peaks Challenge' from many mountaineering ventures.
"[Also] Our challenge is in no way comparable to attempting a summit like Everest," Mr Montgomery adds.
"But bearing in mind our lack of experience, we are not expecting it to pass without some difficult moments. Our priority will always be the safety of the team as a whole and we will ensure the local rescue centres are notified of our presence in advance."
Joining in the challenge
The climbing contingent is encouraging supporters to join in the trek, and support the Africa Mercy mission, by making donations online.
The team have utilised an internet charity service to make giving as easy as clicking on Three Peaks Challenge.
"We're very confident that in donating to Mercy Ships you can be guaranteed that your money will make a real difference," says Mr Montgomery.
The challenge is already making a real difference in the lives of the mountaineers, one participant jokingly notes.
"The hard training has already begun," he writes on their web site, "With early morning ice baths, Lycra-clad aerobics sessions and all team members now living in altitude tents."
But if their good humour translates to three successful ascents on June 25 there are guaranteed to be many more smiles in Ghana by this time next year.
