When Mohammed first started volunteering at YMCA Cheshire, he never imagined he would be training for one of the toughest charity challenges in the country. Now, alongside Mark, a YMCA staff member and former resident, he is preparing to tackle the Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds and awareness for vulnerable young people across Cheshire.
From football fields to mountain trails
“I have been doing athletics my whole life,” Mohammed says. “Football, track and field, basketball, anything that kept me moving. When I moved to the UK in 2021 I did not know anyone, so I stopped. I did not even know how to join a gym.”. Things changed when he met Mike, YMCA Cheshire’s Health and Wellbeing Coach. “Mike heard I ran and invited me out. We started jogging together. Sometimes 5Ks, sometimes just for the joy of it. It brought that part of me back.”
In July 2024, Mohammed joined Crewe’s Parkrun for the first time. He credits those Saturday mornings with keeping his mental health and wellbeing on track. “Being outside, being active, being part of the community lifts you. It helps you feel like yourself again.”
Today, Mohammed volunteers at the GLO Café as a Barista and describes YMCA Cheshire as a real and safe place where people genuinely care.
A journey of resilience
Mark knows the power of that care. As a teenager facing heavy challenges, he became a YMCA resident. Through patience, work and consistency, he rebuilt his life. He now works for the same organisation that once supported him.
For Mark, this challenge is personal. “I have always wanted to do it. What makes it special is sharing it with someone I respect. It is a chance to show the positive stories people do not always hear. Our residents are brilliant and they do brilliant things.”
The challenge
The 2025 Three Peaks Challenge in collaboration with Genie’s Wish will take place on the 26th – 28th of September 2025. It starts in Scotland on Ben Nevis, then heads to Scafell Pike in England, and finishes on Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, in Wales.
- Ben Nevis stands at about 1,345 meters.
- Scafell Pike stands at about 978 meters.
- Yr Wyddfa stands at about 1,085 meters.
The walking distance is roughly 23 miles with about 3,000 meters of total ascent. The team will also cover hundreds of miles by road between the peaks. The team aim to complete it in 2 days, which means little sleep, tough climbs in changing weather, and a need for strong teamwork and careful pacing.
This is a serious physical and mental test. It asks for stamina, grit and calm decisions under pressure. It is big enough to deserve sponsorship because every step is earned.
Motivation and cause
Mohammed is running for the community that welcomed him. Mark is climbing for the young people who deserve to be seen for their potential, not their past. Together they want to raise awareness, challenge stigma and fund practical support that changes lives.
Their motivation is simple and deeply human. Everyone deserves a safe place, a caring voice and a path forward. Every step they take is for someone who needs hope.
Your donation powers YMCA Cheshire’s mission. It helps provide safe accommodation, wellbeing support, skills programmes, volunteering opportunities and the kind of everyday encouragement that turns a corner into a new chapter.
How your gift will be used
Every step they take is to raise money for YMCA Cheshire’s work. Tangible impact helps people feel the difference they are making. Here are examples of what your gift could help fund.
- £20 could provide a hygiene and essentials kit for a new resident or cover local travel to key appointments.
- £50 could help fund a one-to-one wellbeing session with our coaching team or provide a basic sports kit so a young person can join community activities like Parkrun.
- £100 could contribute to a safe accommodation bursary, counselling support, or a place on a life skills or employability workshop.
These are examples to show impact. Your donation will always be used where the need is greatest across YMCA Cheshire services.
A simple invitation
Mohammed have a gentle advice for anyone thinking about starting anything all over again: “There is no right time. Start small. Five hundred metres becomes a kilometre, then five, then ten. One day you find yourself climbing mountains”. Mark’s message for anyone unsure about getting involved is that “Homelessness can happen to anyone. You could be a CEO one day and, in a tent, the next. People we work with are not defined by stereotypes. They are resilient, talented and doing their best. When you donate, you are helping someone’s mum, dad, child or friend get a second chance.”
You can stand with Mohammed and Mark as they take on the Three Peaks for YMCA Cheshire. Your support will help break stereotypes and build futures.
Donate today and be part of the climb.
Click here to donate: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/ymcathreepeaks
If you are thinking of organising your own event to fundraise for YMCA Cheshire, please contact tammi.mcclure@ymcacrewe.org.uk or call 07539061190 to request a fundraising toolkit. https://ymcacheshire.org.uk/get-involved/support-us/fundraise/
