A Salford musician is preparing to tackle the famous Three Peaks Challenge while carrying a full drum kit on his back to raise funds for a men's mental health charity.
Unconventional fundraiser with a clear message
Aaron Youd, known professionally as the Manchester Drummer, will attempt to climb England’s Scafell Pike, Scotland’s Ben Nevis and Wales’ Snowdon, performing a short live drumming session at the summit of each mountain. The challenge will begin on Friday 28 August at the foot of Scafell Pike in the Lake District.
The event is being staged in support of Mandem Meetup, a charity that promotes men’s mental health and encourages open conversations about emotional wellbeing. Aaron has cited personal loss as a motivating factor: over recent years he has lost six friends and fellow musicians to suicide.
“This challenge is about much more than endurance. It’s about raising awareness for mental health, encouraging people to speak openly, and raising as much money as possible for a cause that affects so many lives every day.”
Local backing and preparations
Aaron has spent more than 27 years touring and performing across the UK and Europe. His bid to complete the Three Peaks with a full drum kit has drawn commercial support after a chance meeting with a senior figure from Therme Manchester, who offered assistance with his physical preparation and training programme.
- What: Three Peaks Challenge while carrying a full drum kit and performing at each summit
- Who: Aaron Youd (the Manchester Drummer)
- Why: To raise awareness and funds for Mandem Meetup following the loss of colleagues to suicide
- When: Begins Friday 28 August at Scafell Pike
How the climbs will proceed
The plan is for Aaron to climb and perform at each peak in turn. A simple table summarises the mountains involved and the intended activity at each summit.
| Mountain | Nation | Planned activity |
|---|---|---|
| Scafell Pike | England | Climb and live drumming at the summit |
| Ben Nevis | Scotland | Climb and live drumming at the summit |
| Snowdon | Wales | Climb and live drumming at the summit |
Community relevance and next steps
The fundraiser highlights the continuing concern around male suicide and the importance of local support networks. Mandem Meetup’s focus is to normalise conversation about mental health among men; events such as this aim to attract attention and donations to that mission.
Anyone seeking to support the campaign or learn more should look for updates from Aaron’s public pages and from Mandem Meetup. Those affected by the issues raised can contact local mental health services or national helplines for immediate assistance.
Coverage of the challenge will follow as Aaron progresses through his training and the climb itself approaches.
