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Tearful Des Lally ascends Pen y Fan for 365th time in a year

Mother Nature threw all she could at Des Lally

A father-of-three has ascended the highest mountain in south Wales for the 365th time in a year.

Des Lally, 43, a mortgage broker from Brecon, has been walking up and down Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons on most days for the last year.

He has braved blizzards, 5ft (1.5m) snow drifts, 80mph winds and countless torrential downpours in aid of charity.

An emotional Mr Lally said he had a "tear in my eye" as he reached the summit alongside his father, 76.

Heat exhaustion last summer left Mr Lally facing a number of ascents each day to make up lost time, including three on Friday.

Paul Griffiths/Help for Heroes Des Lally and his dad approach the summitPaul Griffiths/Help for Heroes
There was plenty of support as the monumental challenge reach its conclusion

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"Today is the end of a long year," he said at the summit.

"It's been really humbling - not only the people who have donated, but the people who have liked and shared it.

"It's been a massive journey and we've all been on it - it's not just me."

Paul Griffiths/Help for Heroes Des Lally at the summit of Pen y Fan with his dadPaul Griffiths/Help for Heroes
Des Lally made the final ascent with his father, Des Lally Snr, 76

He has raised more than £50,000 for Help for Heroes, a charity which helps injured or unwell former military personnel, and Cancer Research UK.

Mr Lally said both charities meant a lot to him after both his parents have been affected by cancer.

His father Des Lally Snr served for 26 years with the Irish Guards in Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Belize and Canada before retiring in Brecon in the 1980s.

Paul Griffiths/Help for Heroes Des Lally approaches the summit with his dadPaul Griffiths/Help for Heroes
A crowd of walkers was waiting to cheer Des and his father on to the summit

The veteran, who has had treatment for cancer and has a heart condition, climbed Pen y Fan for the first time since his days in service.

"I'm not an emotional guy but there was a tear in my eye - it was an emotional time," said Mr Lally.

PA Guard of HonourPA
Guard of honour: Mr Lally admitted there were tears as he was welcomed to the summit

He has worn through seven pairs of trainers during the challenge, in which he has covered around 1,360 miles.

"It's just something I wanted to do to give a little back," he said.

"I wanted to do something a bit different and unusual that would raise the profile of the charities - but I wasn't expecting so many other people to take my personal challenge to their hearts."

PA Des at the summit receiving a cheque for £550 from a person dressed up as a horsePA
Mr Lally has now raised more than £50,000 for Help for Heroes and Cancer Research UK

He has faced numerous challenges along the way; from the searing heat and biting cold, to injured ankles and twisted knees.

"When you are turning up at nine at night and it's dark, there are 70-80mph winds, it's smashing down with rain, you are on your own and I think 'here we go again'," he said.

"But you have only got to think about the reasons you are doing it and you are soon out of the car and on the way."