Some people are colleagues, and some become much more. For ten years, I had the privilege of working alongside Gina MacCarthy. In that time, she became a dear friend. Her energy was infectious, and she was always ready for a challenge, a real inspiration with a great passion for life.

So, when we lost Gina to breast cancer earlier this year, the sense of loss was profound. There is no right way to grieve, but for us, a group of twelve colleagues and friends, we felt the best way to honour Gina’s memory was to take on a challenge she would have relished herself.

We would tackle the Yorkshire Three Peaks. It is a trek of nearly 25 miles, ascending three of the region’s highest mountains – Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough – all in a single day. It was a fitting tribute to a woman who never shied away from a tough road.

And so, on a glorious Saturday morning in October, our team gathered in this beautiful part of the north of England, part of the Pennine range. We loaded our gear into a convoy of three Ranger pickups and made our way to Horton-in-Ribblesdale where we set off at sunrise.

We were so lucky with the weather and our spirits were high as we summited our first peak, Pen-y-Ghent. The sun shone, and layers were packed away into already bulging backpacks. Ahead of us lay a long trek towards the famous Ribblehead Viaduct. The views of the surrounding countryside were simply amazing, a moment of beauty and perspective on a day of reflection.

The journey to the top of Whernside, our second peak, was tough. The combination of the heat and the steady climb began to take its toll. The trek became a trudge for some, and our group began to naturally spread out along the path.

This, for me, was where the true spirit of the day shone through. I was so impressed by my teammates. I saw individuals pushing themselves to their absolute limits yet still finding the energy to support their fellow hikers, offering a word of encouragement or simply walking alongside them in solidarity.

As we faced the final, steep ascent of Ingleborough, the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the landscape. We reached the summit plateau just as dusk was turning to night, a shared sense of achievement washing over us.

The job was almost done. All that remained was a five-mile descent back to our starting point, a journey many of us completed in darkness, guided by the beams of our headtorches. I pushed on through that last stretch, running the final few miles as my own personal tribute for a fellow runner.

After some 60,000 steps, it was over. I was mightily glad to see a row of Rangers waiting to take us back to our accommodation, a few miles away, and we talked it all over back at base as we tucked into a well-deserved pasta dish.

We came together to remember someone taken far too soon, but we left with something more. We shared an experience of challenge, resilience, and togetherness that I know none of us will ever forget. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our friends and colleagues, we also raised more than £3,000 for the Triple Negative Breast Cancer charity, a cause chosen by Gina’s family.

Gina would have been proud.

“The best way to honour Gina’s memory was to take on a challenge she would have relished herself.”

Emmanuel Lubrani

Emmanuel Lubrani manages events for Ford in Europe