On 12 August 2017, NI local Lee Murphy will take on the Mourne Seven Sevens Challenge – a gruelling one-day trek across the seven highest peaks in the Mournes Mountains – in aid of Children In Crossfire.
Combining his love of hiking with a desire to make a difference, Lee is also set to trek across Iceland for three days from Thursday 9 to Monday 13 November in order to raise funds for the charity.
Lee said: “My story really starts in January with a need to lose some weight I’d put on after I stopped smoking a few years back. I booked into a 12 week weightloss programme with my friend Séan Hamill who is a personal trainer and remembered VERY quickly why I didn’t like the gym! I stuck out the three months and lost almost two stone, but I didn’t enjoy a single second of it.
It was then that Lee decided to try hill walking and subsequently fell in love with the Mourne mountains.
He said: “I had discovered a natural ability and love for hillwalking so I decided this was going to be my best route to the fitness level I needed. I decided that this shouldn’t be a selfish journey for me and that I should be doing something to help a charity, while also was bettering myself and my health.
Lee was inspired by his friend Brian McGeown, who has done a lot of work with various charities including running from Cork to Belfast and doing an impressive 5 marathons in 24 hours.
“One of Brian’s chosen charities is Children In Crossfire, which was an instant YES for me! So I checked what fundraising options there are and would you believe it, they do TONS of hiking trips!
“I have committed to trekking across Iceland for three days for this wonderful charity and I have also added on an extra trek across the Mournes as part of my fundraising efforts. I will be trekking across the 7 highest peaks in the Mournes in one day.” Lee said.
With a total distance of 18 miles and 2,495m to climb, he is determined to tackle all seven peaks in the Mourne Mountains, Co. Down which are 700m or more above sea level.
Help Lee reach his fundraising target for Children In Crossfire by donating here: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Lee-Murphy5