A MAN took on the National Three Peaks Challenge last week in memory of a late Rhyl woman, and in aid of the hospital ward which provided months of treatment for her. Paul Billington-Dykes, from Penyffordd, climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Yr Wyddfa in 24 hours and 44 minutes on June 20 and 21. Though this was 44 minutes past the target time, Paul was determined to complete it in memory of Emma Murray, a Rhyl woman who was married to Paul’s best friend, Liam.
Emma died of sepsis at the age of 33 on December 27, 2023, having been “on the brink of triumph over cancer”, which she had been diagnosed with in April of last year. Paul has raised more than £8,000 for the Enfys ward at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan, which cared for Emma. He said: "We were only over the time due to a two-hour traffic delay in Glasgow, and then again on the M6; otherwise, we'd have smashed it.
"We did Ben Nevis in five hours and five minutes, Scafell Pike in three hours, and Yr Wyddfa in three hours and 20 minutes. "The day was amazing but exhausting. I was completely broken by the end of the 24 hours, and we couldn't have done it without my wife, Jessica, and father-in-law, Dave driving us.
"Heading into Yr Wyddfa, I was severely dehydrated as I'd forgotten to take enough fluids while climbing Scafell Pike. "My friends rallied round and made sure I had enough fluids and electrolytes on the bus, so I was hydrated enough for Yr Wyddfa." Emma, who Paul described as a "fun and bubbly" woman wh.