Five hundred miles, Three Peaks, -10°c, one man, and one aim: supporting the Armed Forces family

19 December 2025

Howard Kniveton of Rotherham is a serving member of the RAF Regiment based at RAF Leeming. He will take on a mammoth fundraiser for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity: the 500-mile, self-supported National Three Peaks challenge beginning at the summit of Ben Nevis – in Winter.

Typical temperatures at the summit of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Yr Wyddfa [Snowdon] in mid-January – Howard sets off on January 15 – are below 0°C, but add the effects of even a mild breeze, and the windchill sends the mercury plummeting.

It is a test of endurance, mental grit, and determination as Howard explains: “Self-supported means just that.” 

“Starting at the summit of Ben Nevis mid-January, I’ll be hiking all the way to Scafell Pike and on to Yr Wyddfa – a journey of over 500 miles. I’ll be wild camping each night, living out of my pack, and surviving on ration packs, with the goal of completing the trek in just 20 days.

“As a serving member of the RAF Regiment, this challenge is deeply personal to me, and my primary goal is to raise as much awareness and support as possible for the vital support provides to serving personnel, veterans, and their families.”

Howard has set a target of £5,000 for his gruelling challenge. So far, he has raised around £1,000.

Funds raised by Howard will go to support people like Nick, who served for 11 years in the British Army. A medical condition eventually resulted in him rejoining Civvy Street and leaving behind his dream job. Life was hard, and got harder, with Nick living in tent in woods during Winter – until SSAFA helped him make a new home and a new life.

Howard said: “I’m sleeping in the wild during Winter through choice, but Nick didn’t have the luxury of choice when he was out in all weathers.

“And that’s why I’m doing this, so that SSAFA can be there for people like Nick or the 55,000 others the charity helps annually.”

He added that every step of this journey represents “… the strength, resilience, and unity of our Armed Forces family. It’s going to be tough — 500 miles across rugged terrain, unpredictable weather, and long days on the move.

“But this fundraiser is my way of showing solidarity and appreciation for those who’ve served before me, those serving now, and those who will serve in the future.”