GLSW Network MS Challenge 2003

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The MS Challenge is an annual event for teams of up to 12, whose objective is to navigate around a 10km orienteering course at Bryn Egan (Capel Currig) while carrying an MS sufferer in a wheelchair. Teams are sponsored, and the money raised is used to provide various therapies including physio at MS Therapy Centres around the UK. Each year some 50 teams take part in the event.

The course is very demanding and includes forestry roads, tracks through woodland, steep rocky slopes, peat bog like you've never experienced before, and three river crossings – one being chest deep if you are vertically challenged like the CSNC!

The Network team booked in on Saturday morning having travelled after the rush hour on Friday and stayed overnight at the County base in Bethesda. At the start (in a field beside the A5) teams were busy adapting wheelchairs and attaching frames, which enable the wheelchair to be lifted and manoeuvred around the various obstacles en route. Once under way there were no major incidents apart from the sight of Gareth Jones knocking down dead trees with his bare hands to the strains of "We're from the Network", and completely fazing the team in front. We were piped out by a Scottish piper (in Wales!) in full regalia, and piped back in after 3¼ hours, a very fast time for a team of eight. But then we were only carrying Thelma, who weighed a mere 7 stones! About time too – it's usually someone twice as heavy. Having dried off and changed we enjoyed a hot snack before driving back to Bethesda for a hot shower and an evening meal of 'spag bol' with added ingredients! Who did bring the tin of Pedigree Chum by the way?

Then it was time to join some of the other teams at the Glen Aber hotel in Betws y Coed for drinks and a good natter. After a somewhat late start on Sunday morning, due largely to being woken at 2:30am by some of the local 'boyos' trying to break in, we headed towards Beddgelert to climb Cnicht. However, there was insufficient time to make a complete 'tour', and so we had to settle for a 'recce' of the route from the northwest before investing Stuart Richardson, and then beating a hasty retreat to the cars for the journey home.

Next year it would be great if we could manage a complete team of 12, and maybe two teams even.

Any contributions towards our sponsorship would be gratefully received. Please make cheques payable to the Sutton & Croydon MS Therapy Centre.

Chris Dean County Scout Network Commissioner

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