IN JUST over seven days, Belfast-based Fermanagh man Eddie Roofe climbed 38,500ft – a height close to 1.5 Mount Everests – covering a total distance of 153 miles, the equivalent of just under six marathons, as he completed his challenge to scale the highest peaks in Ireland, and in doing so raising more than £14,000 for Sands in memory of his late son, Peter.

Accompanied by friends and family, Eddie completed the Peaks for Peter challenge on Sunday, August 1, by climbing the highest peak in his home county of Fermanagh – Cuilcagh Mountain.

Now that he has completed the challenge, Eddie says he feels a "real sense of achievement".

"When I set out to do it, it was going to be a real challenge, but I put the hours in with the training over the past few months," he said, adding with a laugh: "It's been wonderful, but tough on the legs, I have to say."

Over the course of the challenge, which spanned eight days, taking seven days, two hours and 15 minutes to complete, Eddie was accompanied by various people as he climbed a total of 26 peaks across the island, which he was very grateful for.

He was particularly grateful to his cousin, Gary Donegan, who joined him for the entire challenge.

"Gary walked every step with me, which was a huge help. I don't think I could have done it without him. He dragged me up some of those mountains!"

Eddie continued: "My dad did seven of the 26 with us, and I had lots of other people [involved]. My brother-in-law, Colm, joined us for five or six as well, and people from all over.

"On the final one, on Cuilcagh, we had 40 or 50 people come with us, so it was a lovely way to end," he said.

Talking about the highs and lows he experienced as he embarked on the challenge, Eddie noted that the day he and Gary climbed peaks in Co. Clare and Co. Tipperary was especially challenging.

He explained: "That Thursday, we were doing one of our biggest days. We started on Moylussa, in Co. Clare, and then moved on to Galtymore in Co. Tipperary, which was the third-highest we did over that week.

"I think a combination of fatigue – they had rain the night before, so the ground was very heavy and damp – and it just really took everything out of us.

"We were definitely at our low that day, but we took a break and refuelled, and took our time up to the top of that mountain.

"We got there in the end, and once we got past that day, things started to ease up a bit, and we got into our stride again."

He went on to comment that although the challenge was tough, there were many highlights. One in particular was when he climbed Carrauntoohil, in Co. Kerry.

"Reaching the top of Carrauntoohil and reaching the top of The Devil's Ladder on Carrauntoohil is a very difficult climb, but we really enjoyed that day.

"Just as we got to the top, it was really cloudy that day, and just literally as we arrived at the cross at the top of Carrauntoohil, the sun came through the clouds, and there were a lovely clear 60 seconds or so.

"It was a really special moment," he told this newspaper.

So far, Eddie has raised more than £14,000 for the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, Sands, in memory of his late son, Peter, who he and his wife Emma lost during childbirth in 2019.

"To raise the level of money has been absolutely phenomenal, and to see that amount of support. To see how much awareness it has raised as well, that's one huge factor, going forward, that hopefully will do some good for people," said Eddie.

He added: "Sands were just delighted to see just how successful it has been. There's talk of what that money will do, and hopefully they'll be able to do something with it in the locality, in the South West Acute Hospital unit, to potentially help any future bereaved parents."

Eddie's plan is to keep the Peaks for Peter fundraising page open for the next week. If you wish to donate, see: https://tinyurl.com/sav5t5vk.