Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge for Mountain Trike wheelchair rider

Jack Morgan, who following a fall five years ago was left paralysed has completed a personal challenge that he set himself by making it to the top of one of Yorkshire’s Three Peaks.

Jack used his Mountain Trike – a self-propelled off-road wheelchair to make the ascent from Horton in Ribblesdale to the summit of Pen-y-Ghent. He was joined on Saturday’s (23 April 2016) event by friends, family and members of the Cave Rescue Organisation, for which he was raising funds.

They made the 11km (7-mile) trip with the 36-year-old lecturer in cool but good conditions to the summit of the 694m (2,277ft) fell.

Jack said: “While it was physically tough going up, the downhill was more worrying.

“The chance of losing control was higher, and made it a bit more fraught.”

His effort has so far raised more than £1,800 for the Clapham-based team, whose volunteers go to the aid of those in trouble both underground and on the fells of the Yorkshire Dales and surrounding areas.

A CRO spokesperson said: “Everyone who supported Jack today was impressed by his determination, strength and character in completing a tough route on far from ideal tracks for his mode of transport.”

Former amateur rugby player Jack suffered head and back injuries when he fell from cliffs near Lochinver in Sutherland 5½ years ago.

Jack goes onto say, “The Mountain Trike was excellent in helping me get to the peak of Pen-y-ghent mountain in North Yorkshire. It was a 700m accent and 7 mile route which tested me on my strength, fitness and mountain trike skills!
A fantastic support team, cave and mountain rescue, enabled me to get to the peak safely. I have raised over £1800 for the local Cave and Mountain Rescue Organisation,  which is fantastic.”

Following a short illness, very sadly, Jack Morgan passed away in January 2017.

A tribute has been made to Jack by local newspaper The Craven Herald and can be read here.

Our thoughts are with Jack’s family.

RIP Jack