COLLEAGUES from South West Water raised more than £1,300 for charity last month by hiking four peaks in the Brecon Beacons.

Eleven colleagues from South West Water and SES Water, both part of Pennon, took on this testing challenge in support of WaterAid, an international charity which works to bring clean water, sanitation and good hygiene to communities around the world.

The team summited four peaks: Corn Du, Waun Fach, Pen Y Gadair Fawr, and Pen y Fan – which at 886m is the highest mountain in Southern Britain – totalling 28.82km and 1,669m in elevation.

This proved to be a real challenge, especially to those who did not have much hiking experience.

As well as raising much needed funding for WaterAid, the challenge was an opportunity for those involved to explore and enjoy the great outdoors.

For Raghav Mandana, an Energy Graduate at South West Water, it was an exciting opportunity to hike his first UK mountain.

The weekend was all about ‘rediscovering an activity I love to do but haven't managed to do in several years’ and was a ’wonderful opportunity to go to a place where I have never been before’, with the typical British weather contributing to the challenge, and the sense of achievement at the end.

Raghav said: ‘This hike was an absolute treat for me. I really relished the chance to climb some very testing peaks and rediscover my love of hiking.

‘To do it all for such an important cause made it even more special. WaterAid does incredible work and I’m very proud that this money, alongside thousands of other pounds already raised by colleagues at South West Water this year, will help change lives with clean water’.

Zena Hamilton, WaterAid’s Partnerships Officer for the South, West and Wales region, said: ‘We’re so grateful for the dedication, teamwork, and determination shown by everyone involved.

‘It was fantastic to see teams from across the water industry coming together, building connections, and stepping up for a cause that helps bring clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene to communities around the world’.