Barefoot on Ben Nevis – and £5,000 for Rowcroft

A KINGSKERSWELL man has honoured his late parents by climbing the UK’s highest mountain barefoot and raising more than £5,000 for Rowcroft Hospice.

Tristan Smith, 43, tackled Ben Nevis without shoes as part of a team challenge with family and friends to honour his parents, Colin and Sadie Smith, and thank the hospice that cared for them during the final stages of their lives.

The team completed the National Three Peaks Challenge – climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in Cumbria and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in Wales – in just 34 hours on July 3.

For Tristan, however, the challenge was about much more than endurance.

‘I wanted to do something massive in memory of my parents while raising funds for the outstanding work the hospice does’, he said.

‘I could have done it the way most would, with shoes on, but I wanted to do something that would really stand out and help raise as much as possible.

‘As a dad and a rugby coach, I wanted to show my children and the young people I coach that there are no limits to what you can achieve if you're determined and put your heart into it’.

The decision to climb Ben Nevis barefoot made for an unforgettable challenge.

Battling cold, wet and at times icy conditions, with patches of snow still lining sections of the route, Tristan reached the summit without footwear despite suffering swollen feet, painful blisters and aching legs.

‘The pain was immense’, he said.

‘But knowing that every step was helping Rowcroft care for other people's loved ones was a stronger feeling than any pain.

‘The people I met on the mountain were incredible.

‘They couldn't believe I was climbing barefoot and cheered me on every time we crossed paths’.

Although his feet were badly injured after completing Ben Nevis, Tristan wore shoes for the remaining climbs up Yr Wyddfa and Scafell Pike to protect them while ensuring he could finish the challenge alongside his team.

He credited his family and friends with helping him reach the finish.

‘My team kept me motivated every step of the way. I couldn't have done it without my family and friends’, he said.

‘Seeing my wife and son waiting for me at the finish, cheering me on, gave me the final push I needed. The support from the community throughout has been incredible’.

The fundraiser was inspired by the care Rowcroft Hospice provided to both of Tristan's parents.

His father, Colin, was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis after a hospital stay with Covid-19.

As his health deteriorated, Rowcroft's community team supported him and the family at home during his final weeks.

‘From the second the Rowcroft team met him, they loved him – his mischievous ways, his jokes, his infectious laugh’, Tristan recalled.

‘Over the next three weeks, they cared for him alongside us as if he were their own family.

‘The nurses were so gentle, making sure he wasn't in pain, wasn't scared and was as comfortable as he could be’.

His mother, Sadie, had previously recovered from serious illness but later required end-of-life care herself. Once again, Rowcroft was there to support the family.

‘With the support of the angels from Rowcroft, we cared for my mum as best we could’, Tristan said.

‘Their gentle, caring presence put her at ease, and they supported us too, guiding us through every step’.

Reflecting on the couple he was honouring, Tristan described his parents as lifelong soulmates.

‘My mum and dad met when they were just teenagers. They fell in love from the second they met and remained deeply devoted to each other for almost 60 years’, he said.

‘Mum was quite simply the best mother I could have wished for, and I considered my dad not just my father, but my best mate’.

He also revealed the words from his father that inspired him to push through the toughest moments of the challenge.

‘One of the last things my dad said to me was to make sure that, when I reach the end of my life, I have no regrets. That has stayed with me and kept me going throughout this challenge’.

More than £5,000 has already been raised through the challenge, with donations continuing to come in.

As demand for hospice care across South Devon continues to grow, Rowcroft Hospice relies heavily on fundraising to provide specialist end-of-life care for local families, both in patients' homes and at the hospice itself.

Tristan hopes his challenge will not only raise vital funds but also inspire others to support the charity or take on fundraising challenges of their own.

After completing one of Britain's toughest endurance tests – including an ascent of Ben Nevis barefoot – he hopes his efforts will help ensure more families receive the same compassionate care that meant so much to his own.