3D printing guru has a mountain to climb (for charity)

One of the team at 3D printing specialist Print IT 3D is taking on a new challenge – a 59 mile trek/run/cycle ride through Snowdonia.

Sean Turner, business development manager for the South Wales-based firm is joining forces with 12 friends for the mammoth challenge, which will see the team raise funds for the Meningitis Research Foundation.

This event will be dedicated to the memory of Ava Jeremiah, who lost her life on April 16, 2016 to meningitis.

On Friday July 7, 2017, the team will be trekking, running and cycling 59 miles through Snowdonia.

Starting at the bottom of Snowdon, they’ll trek up to the summit and plant a flag in memory of Ava, before heading back down the south side. When they reach the bottom they’re getting their running shoes on, running five miles south to find their bikes, followed by a 32 mile ride through the stunning hills of Snowdonia, and a further 5.3 miles running uphill to the foot of Cadair Idris mountain. From there they will climb to the summit, leave another flag for Ava, then head back down.

The trip is roughly 59 miles in total: 32 miles on bike and more than a marathon on foot, a 1,085 metre peak and an 893 metre peak, all to be completed in the 16 hours of daylight available (they’re taking headtorches just in case).

Sean and the team are now appealing to MTI readers to support the cause by pledging donations via the group’s Just Giving page here.

Sean explained his motivation for the event: “I’ve organised this endurance challenge to raise as much money as possible for the charity that really helped a good friend of mine, Jamie, through the tragedy of losing his daughter Ava last year, two weeks after her first birthday. Myself and 11 other locals hope to raise £3000 for the Meningitis Research Foundation as a thank you from our community.

“We really want to help this charity help others like Jamie in the future, but to do that we need you to help us. We really appreciate all sponsors so if you can spare some change please do.”

The group will also be using the hashtag #Snowdonia4Ava to help spread the word.