Staff rise to Three Peaks challenge

SHOP Direct staff in Oldham proved their mettle in conquering three mountains to raise £15,000 for military heroes.

They joined their chief executive Mark Newton-Jones to successfully complete the gruelling Three Peaks challenge — Scotland’s Ben Nevis, England’s Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon in Wales — in 24 hours.

He led an 11-strong team of senior management and other staff, including from the group’s warehouses in Oldham and Shaw.

Former Royal Marine commando Greg Pye, of Merseyside-based Go Commando, had put the Shop Direct team through its paces in recent weeks and accompanied them on the challenge.

Also joining them were nine Royal Marines — three on each mountain — and more than 30 other Shop Direct Group staff who tackled the final mountain with the 11 challengers.

All of the money raised will go to Help for Heroes, which fundraises for servicemen and women wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Commando 999, which provides support for Royal Marines and their families.