The Fei Sheehy Challenge

Fei is my daughter. She died last year. I marvelled at her spirit, courage, dignity, toughness and positivity of attitude in grappling with the cancer cards that she had been dealt. She is my hero.

Two months after her death, I decided to end a 30 year period of physical inactivity by taking to the local hills and mountains. I had been looking up at Galtymore and Slievenamon all my life and had never set foot on them.

The initial ‘getting to know you’ walks/hikes were tough but there was a certain therapeutic attraction in persevering and Fei wouldn’t have given up. As a spectator, she would be willing me on and rewarding me with high-fives and hugs. As a result of the work effort put in, I got kinda fit doing something that I’m now addicted to.

The  weekend of 28th, 29th & 30th June saw the birth of, what I am going to call, ‘The Fei Sheehy Challenge’. I had considered naming the challenge of ascending the four local peaks of Fauscoum, Slievenamon, Galtymore and Knockmealdown, in one day, in her memory but my walking buddies suggested something tougher, “a proper challenge”.

The challenge was to ‘Cross’ the length of the Comeragh, Knockmealdown and Galty Mountains over three consecutive days. It’s the cumulative equivalent of walking 93.5km, on rough terrain, while taking in the ascent of Carrauntoohil four times, from sea level, along the way.

So, at 15:56 on Sunday the 30th, I finished the final leg.

What I’d now like to do is organise this challenge as an event to raise money for (to be decided) charitable/volunteer organisations. I’ll be doing the three full walks over the three days again, next year.

I don’t expect that there would be a huge take up from other walkers on the full 3 day challenge, so what I’d propose to do is break it down to suit the ability of each hill walker. In this way they could join and exit the main walk at predetermined points on any/all of the three days.

Comments and suggestions welcome. I'll need a lot of help to put this in place.

If any sponsors would like to get involved, please let me know.

UPDATE - 14/01/2014

The event will be happening on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of August. The website is here