Photo Above: On The Peak of Knockboy, Co.Cork.

Each year the big hearted employees of Boston Scientific select a worthy cause which they champion throughout the course of that year. This year saw Cystic Fibrosis being the charity of Choice.

Cystic Fibrosis is Ireland's most common life-threatening inherited disease.

To date there is no cure for this devastating disease and therefore any and all support is hugely necessary and greatly appreciated.

One of the Boston Scientific events is the County Peaks Challenge.

County Peaks Challenge

It involves climbing the highest peak in every county over the course of just nine days. A feat not for the faint hearted averaging about three climbs each day and a journey of about 1500 miles.

The team consists of two of our own from Athenry AC. Peter Delmer and Gary Doherty join Oonagh Hassett, Dermot Hughes and Padraig Mulcahy on their quest from peak to peak.

They are funding the trip themselves, so that all money raised will go directly to Cystic Fibrosis.

The group headed south west from Galway on April 3rd and commenced their first ascent on the Laois/Offaly border before swinging south to Clare. Their journey then took them further south to Kerry and Cork before heading North East again for Tipperary/Limerick, Waterford and Kilkenny.

First Peak Laois Offaly Border

A tough day was encountered on Monday with incessant rain and high winds making efforts more difficult for Carlow/Wexford, Wicklow, Dublin and Kildare (yes, four peaks in one day!).

A “rest day” occurred on Tuesday with some of the smaller peaks being checked off the list in Meath, Westmeath, Longford and Monaghan. Slieve Beagh in Monaghan was one of the lowest ascents in the trip but turned out to be probably the toughest! A 3km hike across open bog sapped energy at every step, to be followed by an equally tough 3km hike back. Wednesday saw the team continuing their journey North to Louth, Armagh and Down. Everybody agreed that the climb from Carlingford village to the top of Slieve Foye was the best so far with spectacular views.

Today, Thursday, involved three climbs in Antrim, Derry/Tyrone and Donegal. It rained!

The remainder of the Country will be completed on Friday and Saturday with the final climbs in Mayo (Mweelrea) and Galway (Benbaun). A bottle of champagne will be shared on the top of Benbaun.

Foggy Galtymore - Tipperary

If you’d like to contribute then join your efforts with ours and log onto http://www.mycharity.ie/event/county_peaks_challenge_event/

Or log on to www.mycharity.ie, click on “Sponsor a Friend” and search for “County Peaks Challenge”

The County Peaks Challenge would also like to thank Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles for their kind sponsorship of a luxurious Volkswagen Carravelle for the trip.

**Update - Our intrepid crew duely completed the challenge on Saturday evening. This was a huge personal achievement and they of course deserve our support and sponsorship. Congratulations all....

Devil's Ladder, Carrantuohill, Co. Kerry