Colchester woman in three peaks world record attempt

But in a world record attempt, Molly Gemmel, 22, is striving to become the fastest woman to summit the peaks while covering the 403 miles between them on foot.

Alongside friends Archie Temperton, 22, and Kasun Muna, 22, the trio are aiming to complete their challenge this month but are battling tough conditions as they climb Ben Nevis, in Scotland, Scafell Pike, in England, and Snowdon, in Wales.

But forget world record attempts, Molly has already overcome a far tougher test.

Last summer, her beloved grandad Nicholas Turner, 78, died after a struggle with cancer.

Molly, from Colchester, said: “He had defeated cancer once before and he was having to try and fight it bravely again.

“I was very lucky to be at home due to the pandemic and so I became one of his carers whilst he was still at home.

Much missed - Molly’s grandfather Nicholas Turner died of cancer despite brave battle Molly’s grandfather Nicholas Turner

“This was without a doubt one of the toughest jobs that I have ever had to do, and so it seems fitting that I am raising money for Cancer Research UK by doing one of the toughest challenges I have ever had to do.”

Together with her friends, the former linguistics student is backing the charity’s campaign to help save more lives, as the organisation fights back from the impact of the pandemic.

Molly and Archie have already raised more than £6,000 between them, while their friend Kasun is raising money for mental health charity MIND.

Molly added: “My grandfather still managed to make us laugh when he could but it was clear to me how much pain this awful disease was causing.

“What made it worse is I was in charge of administering all of his different medications, nearly every hour of the day.

“Even with so many of them, not only was the pain relief not enough, but I knew none of the medications were actually providing the cure he wanted and needed and there was nothing else that I could do to help.

“By supporting this charity I really hope that Cancer Research UK can find a way to change this, so that in future, carers, parents, children and grandchildren can give their relatives a way to fight it.”

Archie added: “I lost one of my grandfathers before I was even born to leukaemia, and then both of my grandmothers died when I was three-years-old, one to multiple myeloma and the other to ovarian cancer.

Archie's grandfather Commander Geoffrey Day (Royal Navy)

“I’ve had several family friends pass away from these awful diseases and far too many more suffer due to something which in this era of medicine we should be able to beat.”

To donate, visit justgiving.com/team/MAKattackmountains.