A Bexley mother spent nine hours battling snow, ice and fierce winds on Britain's highest mountain before reaching the summit, raising £1,246 for charity. Naomi, a regional early years administrator in Bright Horizons' London and East Division, completed the Ben Nevis climb on October 10, aiming to raise funds and awareness for children and families experiencing difficult circumstances.
Preparation and training
To prepare for the climb, Naomi completed weekly hikes across locations including the Seven Sisters cliffs, the White Cliffs of Dover, the Surrey Hills and the North Downs. She took up hiking at the start of 2026 but quickly developed a passion for the outdoors.
She said: "I actually only started hiking on New Year's Day 2026, when I took on the Seven Sisters cliffs. At the time, I wanted to do something that supported my wellbeing, helped improve my fitness and, as a mum of two girls, gave me something that was just for me. I instantly fell in love with it. There was something about getting outside, switching off from everyday life and challenging myself that I absolutely loved."
Naomi said she chose Ben Nevis as her next challenge and wanted the climb to benefit a cause she strongly believed in. She said: "I truly believe that every child deserves a safe space where they can simply be a child, and I saw my climb as an opportunity to turn a personal challenge into something that could also make a difference for someone else."
The climb and conditions
Ahead of the expedition, Naomi spent months building her fitness through hikes with significant elevation, including Fan y Big in Wales, St Catherine's Hill in Winchester and routes across the North Downs and South Downs. Despite researching the climb extensively and watching videos from previous walkers, she said the challenge remained demanding.
On the day, Naomi met her guide at the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre before beginning the challenge in cloudy and rainy conditions. As the pair climbed higher, ascending 4,435 feet above sea level, conditions worsened.
She said: "It started to snow. The ground became increasingly snowy and icy, and the wind was getting much stronger. At the beginning of the hike, our guide had actually warned us that because of the weather conditions, there was a possibility we might not be able to reach the summit."
Summit success and fundraising impact
The climb to the top took around five hours, measuring a distance of around 10 miles from start to finish, while the descent lasted another four hours. Naomi said reaching the summit brought a mix of relief and pride, particularly after being warned that success was not guaranteed.
"The part that stood out the most was actually standing at the summit, thinking 'I actually did it!' - that was very rewarding," she added.
The funds raised will support the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children's work creating Bright Spaces, where children and young people can access specialist support, develop resilience and build healthy relationships. Reflecting on the £1,246 total, Naomi thanked those who backed her fundraising efforts.
She said: "I was very proud of the amount of money raised. I felt very supported by friends, family, colleagues and our nursery families. I would say to anybody else thinking of taking on a similar challenge, or any challenge to raise money for the Foundation - 'Do it!' Not only will you be achieving something for yourself, but you will also be making a meaningful difference to the lives of others."
