Family and friends of former Saffron Walden County High School student Lisa Day, who died while waiting over four and a half hours for an ambulance, completed the Three Peaks Challenge in her memory this month.

Saffron Walden Reporter: The team which took on the Three Peaks Challenge in memory of Saffron Walden student nurse Lisa DayThe team which took on the Three Peaks Challenge in memory of Saffron Walden student nurse Lisa Day (Image: Archant)

Diabetic Lisa passed away suddenly in September, aged 27, following following the rapid onset of diabetic ketoacidosis, which resulted in her suffering a cardiac arrest.

At an inquest into her death in February, a coroner ruled that Lisa, who was about to start training to be a nurse, could have been saved if the London Ambulance Service had acted quicker.

Since her death, family and friends have continued to fundraise in her memory and, overall, more than £14,000 has already been raised for Diabetes UK through different events.

The latest challenge involved 22 walkers, including Lisa’s sister Katie Edwards and brother-in-law Matthew Edwards, attempting to climb the British mountains of Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon in under 24 hours on May 8 and 9.

Matthew said: “As a group, we were incredibly lucky with the weather over the weekend. Apart from some light rain on Ben Nevis, the whole of the expedition was dry, with Scafell and Snowdon offering once in a lifetime warm weather and magnificent views at the top.

“After getting down from Ben Nevis, it was clear that we had some different abilities in the group, and therefore split into two teams for the other two mountains.

“The younger group made it in under 24 hours, and the group of first time mountain climbers, and those who had picked up a few injuries along the way, completed the challenge in 31 hours.

“We’d like to thank everyone around town who has donated. Be it local businesses showing their support, such as Café Cou Cou and Riccios, through to the kind donations of Saffron Walden residents, who have heard Lisa’s story and been moved to help our cause.”

The Three Peaks has raised more than £6,000 for Diabetes UK, those wishing to donate can visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/SugarHillGang.