On Saturday 19th July, three friends – Sam Gradwell (22 from Crosby, Liverpool), Matthew Finegan (23 from Sabden, Lancashire), and Petar Antonijevic (25 from London, England + Belgrade, Serbia) – climbed Ben Nevis barefoot to raise money for mountain rescue.
The climb of UK’s highest peak was brutal. It took seven hours to reach the summit, with the final four hours spent scrambling on hands and knees over jagged rock and gravel.
Hikers on the mountain stopped in their tracks, either cheering the trio on or confidently predicting they wouldn’t make it. But at 4:15pm, against all odds, they stood at the summit – no shoes, no socks, and beaming with pride.
Why Climb Ben Nevis Barefoot?
The three friends met through work and quickly bonded over a shared love of wild adventures in the mountains. Sam and Matthew began documenting their journeys on social media in late 2024 and have since gained over 30,000 followers across platforms.
Their adventures have included summiting Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak, riding mopeds across Eastern Europe, and sleeping in caves. There have been plenty of laughs, blisters, and challenges along the way.
After a particularly dangerous climb on Helvellyn earlier this year, the group became acutely aware of the risks involved in their passion. They decided they wanted to give something back to the unsung heroes who are always ready to save lives in the mountains: the Keswick Mountain Rescue team.
Later that same day – over a well-earned pint – the idea was born. A handshake sealed the pact to climb Ben Nevis barefoot, and they set the date: 19th July, exactly one year since they first met.
Raising Money for Mountain Rescue
Their social media campaign helped them hit their initial £500 fundraising target before the climb even began. Thanks to the generosity of supporters both online and on the mountain, they soon doubled that figure, raising over £1,000 for mountain rescue.
The trio are still accepting donationsaccepting donations and hope to inspire others to take on their own challenges to support vital causes.
We hope these three friends who climbed Ben Nevis barefoot inspire you to do something for charity! Let us know if your crazy charity adventures in the comments below and we might publish them.
