Mum and beautician from Gillingham who quits drinking is to take on three peaks challenge for Abigail's Footsteps
09:00, 20 January 2023
A mum-of-two says she has never felt better after quitting drinking as she lines up to take on the three peaks challenge this summer.
Leeann Laramee went teetotal six months ago and says the decision has given her more energy.
She said: “I just decided to give it up. I’m 46 now and I only ever drank alcohol whenever I went out but I thought it was the right time to get fitter.
“Since giving it up I feel better, I’ve got more energy, my skin looks better and I have more time for the things that I want.”
With all the surplus energy the beautician from Sovereign Place, Gillingham, decided to push herself by taking on the national three peak challenge in July.
It consists of hiking the UK’s highest peaks: Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in Wales in just 24 hours.
Leeann is taking on the challenge on behalf of Rochester charity Abigail’s Footsteps which supports families suffering with the loss of a child through neonatal death and stillbirth.
She said: “When I had my first born there was a woman on my ward who lost her child.
“I couldn’t imagine the pain they were going through and so when I heard about this small charity which helps parents with their loss I wanted to help raise money for them.”
So far Leeann has raised more than £500 of her £1,000 target. To support her fundraising efforts, click here.
She will be starting the challenge at Ben Nevis before scaling Scafell Pike and then Snowdon.
The full course will see the beautician walk about 23 miles ascending 10,052ft in total.
Leeann has never done a trek of this distance before but has been walking at least 30 miles a week for the past month in preparation, roping in her mum and other walking buddies to join her.
She has also been tracking her progress on a newly-made TikTok account called @soberandstomping.
Leeann said: “I can’t wait and am looking forward to it, maybe stupidly, but I am really excited.”