Trek Ahead, 29th September - 5th October 2010
This September, Lorraine Esom will be trekking for 5 days in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco, to the summit of the Mighty Mount Toubkal (13,671ft) North Africa's highest peak. It will include some of the most demanding conditions of North Africa. Each day will be intensive trekking from 6am with at least 6-8 hours per day covering between 12-14km. On the final day we will reach the summit and will trek for 10-12 hours covering 20kms.
The training has already started!
The challenge is being taken up by 33 girls (mums!) from various parts of the country.
The purpose of the trek is to raise vital funds for the "Get A-Head" charity, specifically to fund a junior doctor/Phd medical student to do a 3 year intensive research programme into an extremely rare form of thyroid cancer called - Familial MedullaryThyroid Carcinoma (FMTC). There is no treatment for this cancer once it is diagnosed, the tumours have to be surgically removed as they develop. Therefore life expectancy is short. The disease attacks children and adults and can present itself at birth. This intensive programme will investigate the genetic patterns causing the disease. This will then enable those at risk of developing FMTC to undergo preventative treatment and ultimately save lives. It will also prevent regular invasive and extremely unpleasant tests on those at risk.
The trek will also raise the profile of "Get A-Head" which is a small charity dedicated to supporting both children and adults with head and neck diseases, specifically cancer.
The overall target for the trek is £49,500. Each trekker has a target of £1500. Your support will help achieve this target.
If you wish to make a donation Lorraine’s just giving page is www.justgiving.com/lorraineesom-trekahead
For other Get Ahead events throughout 2010, please see http://www.getahead.org.uk/
St Basil’s Challenge
On 5th June our very own Steve Coldicott completed a 28 mile walk in aid of homeless and disadvantaged children. Here’s how it went...
After last year’s challenges at the Brecon Beacons resulting in one team member sustaining a broken foot, spirits weren’t too high as the start of this years St Basil’s challenge in the Cotswolds approached. Our team of 5, (one short due to a late foot injury), were all 20-30yr olds – mainly friends from college - walking under the banner of ‘Hasbury Fire’, (the name of our Sunday-league football team), set off at around 8am from the Chipping Campden School.
Our intrepid travellers were soon in the swing of things. The sun was shining and fears of a gruelling day ahead dissipated when, at 11:00 the clouds came to the rescue. While still hot, sun-burn and heat exhaustion now seemed unlikely. The sun-cream went back in the bags, and the walk actually became quite enjoyable. For the first 14 miles at least…
Check-points came and went. Cadbury’s Crunchies disappeared at a rapid rate as did a quite obscene amount of sandwiches and energy gels. The route was varied and pretty spectacular, with plenty of trips through the woods to escape the heat. A couple of villages were passed en-route – and much will-power was exercised to avoid stopping at the pub for a beer and a sit down.
The only frustration was at the final hurdle – back in Chipping Campden, the road split and we asked a passer-by which was the school was. She said Left. But we later learned there are 2 schools in Chipping Campden. 20 mins added to our time. And about 3 cm to the size of our blisters…not happy…
Big thanks to everyone for the sponsorship – official figures are not confirmed but it’s looking like about £600-£700 for the team overall which is excellent! Much-needed funds to help homeless/disadvantaged children.
Next year is around Cader Idris, Snowdonia if anyone’s interested in joining us…
Walk Statistics:
Start Time: 08:02
Finish Time: 18:15
Our Stopwatch time (walk duration): 10 hrs 11 mins 23 Secs.
Dead Badgers Spotted: 1
Horses Spotted: Lots
Vaseline Used: 2 Tubs