Peaks for PKD Blog
November 15, 2025

From Kilimanjaro to Three Peaks Challenge | Peaks for PKD

Support Eric's 3 Peaks Challenge!

 

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When I reached the summit of Kilimanjaro and saw the sunrise spill across the clouds, it felt like the world had opened up beneath my feet. Eight days of climbing, freezing nights, thin air, and a mind that kept switching between determination and doubt all came together in that one moment.

I remember feeling equal parts exhausted and grateful. I was there for my mother and my aunt, both of whom received kidney transplants because of polycystic kidney disease. I was there for everyone living with PKD. Standing at that height, it felt like their strength had carried me up the mountain as much as my legs had.

That climb stayed with me long after I came home. And it left me with a clear thought: I want to keep doing something meaningful. I want to push my limits for this community again.

What Kilimanjaro Really Felt Like

Climbing Kilimanjaro is the definition of unpredictable. Before I left, I had watched videos and read blogs, but none of that prepared me for how fast things could change on the mountain.

During the day, the sun felt almost unreal, like someone had turned the world into a giant reflection dish. You could feel it through layers of clothing. But as soon as the sun dipped, the temperature plunged. I’ve never experienced anything like that instant shift. One moment you’re comfortable, the next you’re pulling on every layer you brought, wondering whether your sleeping bag will be enough for the long cold hours ahead.

Peaks_2_03.pngSleeping was a challenge. There’s a strange kind of silence at altitude, broken only by the wind tapping at the tent or the sound of someone shifting in their sleeping bag. The cold kept creeping in, even with proper gear. Those nights were long. At times, I lay awake thinking about my mum and my aunt, imagining everything they had gone through before receiving their transplants. If they could get through all of that, surely I could get through one more freezing night.

And then there were the moments that made everything worth it. Like walking above the clouds and realizing the sky below you is just as bright as the sky above. Or watching the camp chefs prepare meals that tasted unbelievable considering we were, quite literally, on the side of the tallest mountain in Africa. Or the feeling of camaraderie when the whole group gathered before summit night, nervous but ready.

Summit day was unlike anything else. You move so slowly that it hardly feels like progress, but the air is so thin that speeding up is not an option. “Pole, pole,” (Swahili for “slowly, slowly”). Step after step, headlamp in the dark, focused on the rhythm of breathing. And finally, light. A thin line of gold spreading across the horizon. That moment will stay with me forever.

Reaching 5,895 metres was a personal milestone, of course, but raising funds for the PKD Foundation of Canada and feeling so supported by friends, family, and complete strangers meant even more. People cared, people showed up, and people believed in the cause.

Why I’m Taking On the National Three Peaks Challenge

Peaks_2_3_Peaks.pngEven before we had finished our descent, people in our climbing group were already talking about “the next challenge.” For me, one stuck out - both for its test of endurance and its UK roots: the National Three Peaks Challenge.

The National Three Peaks Challenge grabbed my attention because of its unique mix of endurance and speed. It also has a connection to my life in the UK. Three mountains in three different regions - Scotland, England, and Wales - all within 24 hours. Ben Nevis. Scafell Pike. Snowdon.

On paper it sounds simple. In reality, it’s a test of grit. Unlike Kilimanjaro, altitude (and the accompanying altitude sickness) won’t be the challenge. Instead, it will be the pace. The quick ascents and descents. The tight timetable between peaks. The mental stamina needed to stay awake for nearly 24 hours (with car naps, of course – I’m not driving!). This time, the mantra won’t be “pole, pole.” It will be something closer to “keep moving!”

I’m nervous about the lack of sleep, I won’t pretend otherwise. But I’m excited too. The landscapes of the Three Peaks are stunning in different ways, and the idea of stringing all three together in a single push feels like a worthy sequel to Kilimanjaro - one with its own personality, its own challenges, and its own rewards.

And once again, every step will be for people living with polycystic kidney disease.

Training for June 2026

I’m giving myself time to prepare properly. My training plan includes:

  • weekly runs to build long-range endurance
  • squash and gym sessions to strengthen my legs
  • a major warm-up challenge in May 2026 when I’ll tackle the Yorkshire Three Peaks with colleagues

The hardest part isn’t the training itself; it’s staying consistent. On the days when motivation is low, I remind myself of everyone who lives with PKD day after day. The people in my family. The people I’ve met since getting involved with PKD charities. The people who quietly deal with symptoms most of the world has never heard of. Thinking about them helps me lace up my shoes.

Supporting PKD on Both Sides of the Atlantic

Peaks_2_02.pngPKD has shaped my family in big ways, and I’ve been involved with the PKD Foundation of Canada since the mid-2010s. When I moved to the UK in 2021, I also became connected to PKD Charity UK. Both organizations do incredible work, each supporting patients, families, research, and awareness in their own communities.

This time, my goal is to support both. One challenge, two charities, and one shared mission: a future where PKD no longer exists.

If you’d like to follow along, I’ll be posting training updates here on the PKD Foundation of Canada website, and on My PKD. And if you feel inspired, you can join in through my “Pledge-a-Peak” idea - making a small donation for each peak I conquer. Ben Nevis. Scafell Pike. Snowdon.

Three peaks. Two charities. One purpose.

Let’s go!

Eric Hampel, November 2025

Support Eric's 3 Peaks Challenge!

 

PKD patient Eric Hampel is taking on the U.K. National Three Peaks Challenge this June, climbing the highest mountains in Scotland, England, and Wales within 24 hours to raise funds and awareness for polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Inspired by his family’s experience with PKD and his own diagnosis, Eric is using his training and the challenge itself to support PKD research and patient programs in Canada and the U.K. Through regular training updates, he’s sharing the reality of preparing for a demanding endurance challenge while fundraising toward a future without PKD. This is Eric’s second climbing challenge to benefit people affected by PKD; in October 2024 he successfully summited Mt. Kilimanjaro.

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