A man who attempted to summit the highest mountains in England, Scotland, and Wales to raise money for charity has now completed the challenge—with a refrigerator strapped to his back.
The 38-year-old former soldier Michael Copeland conquered the three peaks challenge in just under 24 hours to raise money for the mental health charity Mind.
He started with the Scottish peak Ben Nevis at 6:54 AM last Saturday before scaling Scafell Pike in the Lake District, and then Snowdon in Wales with just 10 minutes to spare.
“The fridge represents the burden that mental health can have on us all,” said Copeland. “I’m a massive overthinker and always think I’m not good enough. I always want to be doing more.”
The daredevil had to overcome gruelling weather conditions including heavy rain, snow, and 40mph winds. He ended up running downhill with the fridge from the summit of Snowdon to complete the challenge just in time.
“The whole challenge felt like a movie with the changing weather conditions… 30-40mph winds as we were going up Snowdon so it almost felt like a grown adult was trying to push me over,” he said.
“Climbing Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike was okay as there wasn’t any wind however, when we got to the top of Ben Nevis we were met with 12 inches of snow and minus conditions.”
“I was running with the fridge on my back, it was banging against my back and it was very uncomfortable, but I couldn’t not finish it,” he said. “I felt like Forrest Gump.”
Copeland wasn’t always a mountain-goer. He took up the hobby during his country’s strict and total lockdowns as a means to help with his struggles against depression and anxiety.
Dedicated to the army, when he left after the birth of his second child, he said he found it difficult to reintegrate with society. He directed his discipline and physical fitness into a bodybuilding passion, which he continued for 10 years.
With gyms closing during lockdowns, he had to find another outlet for his energy and dedication. And, he’s impressing everyone now…