Bath school conquer Everest for Nepal Schools Aid

A report in the Bath Chronicle today describes how Beechen Cliff School organised a fundraising event to raise money for us which must rank as one of the strangest ways ever to "conquer Everest". Organised by House master Lee Sumsion, one of our late son's closest friends the event involved 23 laps of the Alexandra Park school completed by 120 boys of Shakespeare House, at one stage carrying an egg on a spoon, with nutritional needs catered for by burgers at "base camp". Sounds like it was fun and you can read the full story here

Shamrock Traverse in Pictures-Easter 2009

Everest Trek

Everest Base Camp

We have run our flagship trek for almost 10 years now and have decided the time has come to hand over responsibility for organising and running the trek to a reputable company in the UK. This gives our supporters security in knowing they are being guided by "the best" as well as considerable flexibility of not being tied down to a single date in the calendar. In addition there will be adaptable fundraising targets. We are pleased to announce that we are now using KE Adventure to guide our fundraisers on this trek and will shortly have details here on dates, costs and fundraising guidelines.

Events News

Hadrian's Cycleway

Well after a broken arm in May and shocking weather across the summer, the Trustee Chairman at last completes the 170 miles of hadrian's Cycleway. 

Starting from Ravenglass in Cumbria I set off at 7am on Tuesday 16th September and within the first hour had got lost 3 times! (poor signposting rather than bad navigation.....). I was on my hybrid bike which was loaded up with spare clothing for an overnight stop so I wasn't exactly motoring like I was on my Boardman road bike, but an average of 12mph was OK. Lunch in Silloth, then onwards through the slight rain to Carlisle where the route became a bog for two miles around the city and along the river. Out of Carlisle and following the line of Hadrian's Wall I arrived in Brampton at 4pm having completed 103 miles in the day. Not bad for an old git!

After a nights refuelling and a good sleep I was off at 7.30 am with better weather forecast but a bit colder. Also, I now had the pennines to cross so at times it got quite hilly. Still I was well fuelled with energy drinks, bars and gels as well as one banana which I peeled and bloody well dropped in a gritty road. However the extra roughage probably did me good. Onwards along the Tyne and through Newcastle before ............. finished, hooray.

I must say I treated this as a physical challenge rather than a meander up the Cumbrian coast and along the Wall, but I have walked the Wall before so it doesn't have the same attraction.

Overall, around 14 hours on the bike with an overnight stop, quite good going especially since around £1000 was raised for the pot.

Will try to do the Fred Whitton Lakeland Passes in a couple of weeks, but the weather may be against me.

Events News

8th June 2008
Glynis's Big Car Boot

I can't go on any more! After three car boots in a week and if I hear another voice offering me 50p for something that's worth £10 I will get life for murder!
Anyway, today was relatively pleasant but very hot. Only 2.5 hours at a small local "boot" and our total now stands at £255.
Enough, that's half a year's teacher salary paid for, time for someone else to get the other half!

Events News

7th June 2008
Glynis's Big Car Boot Sale

Another attempt at a car boot sale, this time in Swindon, a little closer to home. Parked up at 7am, surrounded by "dealers" looking for jewellery, stamps, coins, tools. No luck with us, but they all stand around as you lay out your stuff.
Very slow going for about three hours then it started to warm up with people buying books, pottery, prints, hip flasks and some of our Nepalese crafts. Still a few miserable buggers about who offer you 10p for something that's clearly worth £10!
Anyway by lunch time we had made a nice £90 so a lot better than last weekend, a bit of a suntan and a wonderful study on human nature!
And ..... that now makes a grand total of £210 for our two efforts!

Events News

2nd June 2008
Glynis's Big Car Boot Sale

Well we have lift off with Brian & Champa visiting Cheltenham for a car boot sale ....... twice yesterday!! Having got up at 5.30am, driven 30 miles to Cheltenham Racecourse, what do we find? Closed for some obscure festival or something!! Aarrghhh ..... back to bed then up again for a different car boot in another part of Cheltenham.
Anyway, three hours later and we've made the grand total of £55, not much with very few stalls making anything at all. But, when added to the £65 we already had from stuff bought straight out of the garage this gives us £120. And, we still have a car loaded to the roof so we're off to Swindon next Saturday morning.
Anybody else?

Events News

28th May 2008

Glynis's Big Car Boot Sale

Well, sad to report that the first attempted attendance at a car boot sale failed miserably. Thanks to driving rain and gale force winds in Gloucestershire, Bank Holiday Monday was not a good day for an outdoor market. We didnt even start to load the car. However a friend spotted a set of four paintings in our "pile" and bought the lot for £65 so we have a good start for the next time we decide to set off!

All you supporters out there remember this is a good way you can help us. Just empty your loft, get friends to add a few items then fill the car and toddle off to your local car boot sale. If you can't raise £100 for nepal Schools Aid, I'll eat my hat!

Challenge 08

This is our Trustee Chairman's (yours truly) personal challenge for the year and involves three seperate activities. First is the 174 mile Hadrian's Cycleway route up the Lake District coast then following Hadrian's Wall to South Shields which I hope to complete in 2-3 days. Second, the Lakeland Passes route which is a replication of the Fred Whitton Challenge involving all six Lakeland passes over a distance of 107 miles. Hoping to complete this in 10-12 hours. Lastly, a trek in the Alps, The Tour Mont Blanc which is a circular route of 100 miles through France, Switzerland and Italy. Hope to complete this in under 10 days.

The only problem is ....... I'm nursing a broken arm at the moment. Fell off the bike 3 weeks ago and will probably be in plaster for another 3-4 weeks. It won't stop me completing the challenge, I'll just be a bit later in the year completing it.

Still seeking sponsorship so click the "sponsor me now" button to the right to donate

Events News

The Gable Girdle

The picture of yours truly tells it all. Rain, followed by cloud, followed by snow underfoot, hail, then ........ clear skies as we turned towards Great Napes. A grand day out which is reported in our April Newsletter but which has opened a few people's eyes to doing something "a little more adventurous" in the mountains. Altogether 11 hardy souls braved the elements and we thank them all for their support which looks like it will raise close to £1000 for us when all sponsorship is in.