06-05-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Gwynedd teen to walk Yr Wyddfa four times for defibrillator fundraiser
Gabriel McKenzie, 19, from Coed y Brenin, will start the challenge at 6pm on Wednesday, June 4.
His fundraiser target is £2,000, while Gabriel said, if he has time, he may complete more round trips of the mountain range –
He works as a groundsman in Dolgellau; at the Penmaenuchaf Hotel.
Gabriel, who so far has raised in excess of £200, said: 'The target is four round trips, but it would be amazing to do as many as I possibly can, depending on how I'm feeling.
'I'm doing it solo, but there'll be a support group on standby to help me, which Dolgellau Fire Station is helping to organise, and one of the mountain rescue teams will know about it in case anything goes wrong. My uncle will be at the bottom of Yr Wyddfa, as well.
'I just think a defibrillator is a good thing for any community to have. Having been to two defibrillator open days and demonstrations, I know it's a lifesaving piece of equipment.
'I think it's quite important that there are as many of them around as possible – it's better to have one and not need it, than need one and not have it.'
Gabriel is no stranger to Yr Wyddfa, having walked it many times previously.
This includes when he completed the National Three Peaks challenge in 22 hours last October.
He added: 'I enjoy it, but it was a bit of struggle when I did it for the Three Peaks because I got there at about midnight and had lost one of my AirPods at the top of Scafell Pike, and the weather wasn't in my favour!
'I'm hoping it'll be mild this time – not too hot, not too cold.'
