A 34-year-old Army veteran will be joined by four friends later this month as he climbs both Pen y Fan and Snowdon and walks the 100-plus miles in-between – all while raising valuable funds for Help for Heroes.

Jonathan Day, from Bedlinog, who served in Germany for four-and-a-half years with the Royal Logistic Corps, hasn’t personally been supported by the Armed Forces charity, but has friends who have been - including one of the two veterans joining him on the challenge.

He explained: “I’ve wanted to do it for years, but never had the time. I’ve recently met a new friend who served in Northern Ireland and he’s going through hell, psychologically. So, I thought this is the perfect time to do it. He’s being supported by Help for Heroes and has also done some fundraising for the charity.

“A lot of people complete fundraising challenges, but quite often it’s the same thing: Land’s End to John O’Groats, or the Three Peaks Challenge. I thought I hadn’t heard of anybody walking from Pen y Fan to Snowdon and climbing them, so why not?

“I enjoy walking – have done since I was a kid. I wouldn’t run it! And you won’t see me on a bike. I’m not sure the others are keen walkers. I think they’re just mad,” he laughed.

“One of them has climbed Snowdon before. I’ve walked Pen y Fan many times, but not Snowdon. I’ve never even seen Snowdon...”

Also taking part are Day’s wife, Ruby - who served with the Adjutant General Corp (AGC) and whom he met in Germany - and their 11-year-old son, Kyle, who will climb Pen y Fan and walk a day or two with them, before rejoining for the climb of Snowdon.

The haven’t set a fundraising target but have challenged themselves to complete the whole thing in seven days. 

“It’s 116 miles from Pen y Fan to Snowdon,” said Day, now a delivery driver. “Overall, it’s 40 hours of walking, including the two mountains, spread over the seven days. We’re camping in tents overnight. No glamping or B&Bs for us. We just want to raise as much as we possibly can in a very worthwhile cause.”

Also joining Day on the trip are friends Danyl Davies, 38, from Bedlinog; Dan Rodie, 42, from Swindon, Wilts; Chris Lunn, 38, from Denbigh, North Wales; and support driver Tony Gibson, 47, of Deganway, North Wales.

Rhys Edwards, Help for Heroes’ Area Fundraising Manager, said: “This is quite a different challenge Jonathan and his team are taking on and we wish them well. We’re very grateful to them all for testing themselves this way for Help for Heroes. It never ceases to amaze me the things people will attempt to raise money for us.”

Help for Heroes champions the Armed Forces community and helps them live well after service. The charity helps them, and their families, to recover and get on with their lives. It has already supported more than 28,500 people and won’t stop until every veteran gets the support they deserve. 

The Charity supports veterans from any branch of the UK military – regulars or reserves – irrespective of length or place of service, and locally embedded civilians (and their families) who worked alongside our Armed Forces.

Jonathan Day’s walk begins on July a24 nd to support his team’s attempts please visit their JustGiving page. 

To get support, visit helpforheroes.org.uk