When three fathers from Bristol decided to climb nine of Britain’s highest peaks, it wasn’t for adventure or bragging rights. It was for their babies. Each of the men—Matt Roberts, Jack Roberts, and Laith Hofayz—has experienced the heartbreak of losing a child, and together they’ve chosen to turn that grief into action. Their journey, reported by BBC News, is raising money for Sands, the UK charity that supports families affected by baby loss.
The idea began as part of a wider endurance challenge organised by the Bristol non-profit 100 Strong, which focuses on mental health, resilience, and community support. The trio will tackle nine peaks in Scotland over five days, combining gruelling mountain climbs with long-distance cycling and open-water swims before travelling to Wales to finish their challenge on Snowdon. As Bristol24/7 explained, their journey starts with a sea swim at Buckie on Scotland’s north coast, followed by a cycle to the Cairngorms to conquer five peaks over 4,000 feet. From there, they’ll head to Fort William to climb four more, including Ben Nevis, before ending the expedition with another sea swim to the shore at Arisaig.
On 15 October, which marks the close of Baby Loss Awareness Week, they’ll climb Snowdon to join the national Wave of Light event, a moment where bereaved families across the country light candles to remember the babies they’ve lost. By aligning their final ascent with that event, they hope to turn remembrance into something visible and collective.
More than just a physical challenge
Speaking to the BBC, the men said the challenge is about starting conversations that often get avoided. Baby loss remains a subject many people struggle to talk about, particularly when it comes to fathers. The trio want to change that by showing that grief doesn’t have to be hidden or silent. Their efforts are already drawing national attention, with donations flooding in and messages of support arriving from parents who’ve experienced similar loss.
The money raised will go directly to Sands, which provides bereavement support in hospitals and communities, funds medical research, and campaigns for better understanding of why babies die. The charity publicly thanked the team on LinkedIn, praising them for their courage and for shining a light on an issue that affects thousands of families every year.
Local businesses in Bristol have also stepped in to help, donating gear and supplies, while 100 Strong has been documenting the team’s progress on social media to keep supporters updated. The group’s fundraising target is £20,000, and according to Bristol24/7, they’ve already raised more than half that amount ahead of their final climb.
Climbing for change
What makes this story so powerful isn’t just the physical endurance involved, but the emotional honesty behind it. These men aren’t professional athletes. They’re fathers carrying memories that never fade and using movement to make sense of something that can’t be explained. Their challenge is as much about awareness as it is about money, creating a space where grief is acknowledged, spoken about, and seen.
The symbolism of the mountains isn’t lost on them. Each peak represents a step forward, a reminder that grief is something you live with, not something you leave behind. By the time they reach the top of Snowdon, surrounded by families holding candles for the Wave of Light, their journey will have connected people across the UK who share the same pain, hope, and love.
As Sands wrote in their message of support, what these men are doing is “incredibly powerful.” And it is because it shows that even from the darkest moments, something meaningful can rise one climb, one candle, one conversation at a time.