about us

Simon Albert
Director

Footsteps of the Maasai "For me nothing can compare with the experience of trekking across the Great African Rift Valley, guided by the local Maasai tribesmen. The peoples, wildlife, scenery, and the challenge itself were all inspirational and I keep looking for ways to top it!"

Simon has travelled extensively throughout the developing world, climbing mountains, rafting rivers, and helping local NGOs on local infrastructure projects. Having completed a Business Studies degree, he trained as a Brand Manager working on Nescafe coffee. He began charity trekking in 1995 to Jordan for the One to One Children's Fund, and climbed Kilimanjaro the following year. He identified a niche in the expeditions market, and on returning to the UK, organised 2 expeditions to Cuba and Tanzania voluntarily for young singles. Following the huge success of these two expeditions, having raised over £100,000 for charity, he set up Challenges (Un) Limited trading as Charity Challenge with co-Director and good friend Jeremy Gane. He has personally taken part in many of the challenges including building houses for orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa, and for families affected by the Asian tsunami in India and Sri Lanka. He has personally led and organised challenges through Peru, Iceland, Cuba, Ecuador, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Haiti and South Africa. It is his passion to do more for those around him that drives the constant development of the business. Simon is married with three young sons and can’t wait until they can join him on a trek to Everest Base Camp.

Jeremy Gane
Director

Kilimanjaro Summit Climb  For most trekkers, Kilimanjaro is a life-changing experience. To climb the mountain is to witness the process of the world evolution in reverse - from the hot equatorial plains of Africa to the arctic ice fields that still exist on the summit 4 miles above the plains. To stand on ˜The Roof of Africa is a magical experience.

Jeremy is also the Managing Director of Gane & Marshall International Ltd. His experience as a fully licensed tour operator running large group adventure tours has been invaluable in the establishment of Charity Challenge. His professional interest in the travel industry started during a climb to Kilimanjaro just over 18 years ago which led to the creation of GandM who are now recognised as the UKs leading specialists in East African mountain climbs. Jeremy himself has climbed Kilimanjaro more than 20 times and he was appointed as Project Manager for the Comic Relief celebrity climb of Kilimanjaro March 2009, which raised millions of dollars for projects in Africa. Jeremy  is a member of the High Altitude Medicine Society. Jeremy is a trustee and secretary for the charity Community Projects Africa, a charity supported actively by Charity Challenge.

Chad Anderson
Business Development Manager

"My favorite of all of our challenges is the Escambray  Encounter. In 2010  I was fortunate enough to lead a group in the Escambray mountains in Cuba. It was my first visit to Cuba and I was blown away by the wonderful people and fantastic sights. The trek was tougher than I first expected but it was a wonderful challenge. Apart from the amazing nature and waterfalls of the Escambray Mountains other  highlights included vibrant Havana and ancient Trinidad. I have made strong friendships with my fellow trekkers and was humbled by the emotional stories and motives of those who undertook the challenge."

Chad left his home country of South Africa 19 years ago to go travelling for a few months, somewhere along the way he was bitten by the proverbial travel bug and just kept on going. He's lived and worked on 6 continents and finally settled in London in 1999.

Simon Bostic
Head of Operations

“Having been at Charity Challenge for over 3 years now, I am pleased to be able to say that taking part in the Great Wall Discovery and setting up and experiencing our Dog Sledding Challenge have been the travel highlights of my career in this industry. These two contrasting itineraries are both wonderful examples of the diverse and exciting experiences we offer, providing participants with not only a potentially life changing challenge but also the chance to see remote communities and locations whilst at the same time raising vital funds in order to benefit worthwhile and deserving causes.”

Following a degree in German, Spanish and French, Simon began his career in travel by taking high school children from the USA on educational and cultural trips around Europe. Following this, a series of tour leading contracts with a leading adventure tour operator took him to the Mayan ruins of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, to track gorillas in the Ugandan rainforest and to the voodoo heartlands of Togo and Benin. Hanging up his hiking boots in favour of becoming Operations Manager for the same travel company, Simon then did a stint in tailormade adventure travel before moving to Charity Challenge where he is was be able to develop his operational skills and experience with another leader in its field, Charity Challenge! As Head of Operations, Simon is now in charge of operations and flights and responsible for compliance and governance and with the help of an expert team of travel professionals, strives towards ever increasingly high standards of quality and safety management throughout the product range.

Joshua Davis
Operations Manager

Kilimanjaro: "I was signed up to this before I even had my first day at Charity Challenge so depending on when you read this I will either be preparing for or recovering from my Kilimanjaro Rongai Trek. I’m really looking forward to getting out there and giving it a go, I’ve heard such good things from friends and colleagues who have done it and is another thing I can tick off my to do list."

Josh moved to Charity Challenge having spent the last few years working for two leading youth development charities, Raleigh International and BSES Expeditions, where he helped to send young people on expeditions abroad. Like many of the staff here his passion for travel and adventure has taken him to countries all over the world and working here in the Operations team seemed like a good way to help other people do the same.

Jo Warren
Senior Operations Manager

‘’Taking part in the Great Wall Discovery Challenge last year was incredible, demanding but also very rewarding, particularly on a clear day when you can look at the vast and beautiful mountain ranges. Your imagination will take you back several centuries to when the wall was the frontline defence of Imperial China.’ Now after recently returning from our newly launched  Sumatra Orangutan Jungle Challenge adding Indonesia to our map of Challenges I have to say this has topped all challenges for me. Gunung Leuser National Park is just an experience of a lifetime, tackling steep descents, river crossings, camping in prime rainforests, gathering rainforest food and above all living 6 days in the home of the Sumatran Orangutan’’

Jo started her passion for travel after experiencing life in the Wild West. Following 12 months on a ranch she returned back to the UK to complete a BA (Hons) in Tourism Management alongside volunteering and fundraising for various Charities. Jo carried on to live, work and travel in varied climates from the Rainforests of Borneo to Marine Parks on the Great Barrier Reef. Jo continued 18 months travelling working and volunteering through North America, SE Asia, New Zealand and Europe and has now joined the Operational Team within Charity Challenge.

Kathryn Hardman
Operations Manager

"I am really looking forward to July, when I will be joining the Trek to Machu Picchu Challenge…it has always been a dream of mine to go to South America and experience the different culture and see all the vibrancy and colour which emanates out of the land and people. Having seen the photos and slide shows I am even more excited than I thought possible, I am also really looking forward to meeting our great local leaders and ground staff, it will be nice to finally put a face to the name!!"

Having spent a lot of my childhood in Kenya, being in a tent on safari was like home! I got the wanderlust bug big time and after I left university I packed my backpack and set off around the world, teaching diving on the Great Barrier Reef, sailing in Corsica and kayaking in Dubai. Over the next 6 years I was based in Kenya starting off as Operations Manager for 3 watersports centres and then becoming a tour leader, running trips all over the world. It was a fantastic experience as I got to see many more places than I could ever dreamt of. I also pursued another passion of mine, working as a Trustee for the Vipingo Village Fund helping educate over 100 AIDS affected children at Future Hope Montessori School, Vipingo, Kenya in  a safe, fun and healthy environment.

Bina Popat
Flights Manager

"Trekking on the Great Wall of China, one of the seven wonders of the world, is something I have always dreamt of doing. I would love to experience the beautiful and vibrant Chinese culture and Terracotta Warriors."

Bina has 17 years experience in the airline industry having worked for Aer Lingus and SriLankan Airlines both in sales and airport experience and is also trained in  IATA fares and ticketing part1 and part 2. Born in Malawi, educated in India(Ooty) and studied further for a  Business Studies Diploma in the UK, Bina is also a qualified beauty Therapist and a spiritual healer (REIKI)!

Tanisha Batra
Flights Executive

"I haven’t experienced any of the amazing challenges as of yet, however I would love to do the Thailand Jungle Expedition. I have never ever been to Thailand before and would love to trek through the rugged jungles in remote areas. I would also get the chance to do rafting, kayaking and riding elephants through the forests and also a bit of shopping in Bangkok!"

I was born and brought up in India , New Delhi.  I graduated from Delhi University in Arts and worked in India for 5 years as a Process Trainer. After getting married, I moved to UK, and have worked in flights for two years now, with experience in fares and ticketing.

Firdous Mulla
Marketing and Database Projects Manager

"Although I haven’t yet experienced a Charity Challenge I have my eyes set on the Thailand Jungle Challenge. Trekking through one of the most beautiful countries in the world, kayaking and elephant riding seems like an adventure I will never forget!"

After completing a 3 year degree in Management and Marketing from Brunel University in 2004, I joined a leading gift and gadget company working as an administrator. I joined Charity Challenge to step up the challenge and to focus on my marketing career. I haven't travelled as much as my colleagues but I hope to do some travelling in the near future!  

Mai Perry-Gosling
Marketing Executive

"I was fortunate enough to take part in the Etna Volcanic Challenge last year. I met some fantastic people, saw some awe inspiring sights and did things I would have never thought myself able to do! Sicily is a beautiful old world country and trekking all around and finally all the way up Mt Etna is an experience I’m never going to forget!”   

Since graduating from the University of Exeter, Mai’s worked in various capacities in the charity sector, in copywriting, account management and social media and is now happily improving her once very impoverished knowledge of world geography and learning all about the travel industry in her role at Charity Challenge!

Neeta Bakrania
Financial Controller

"Looking through the 'chocolate box' of challenges, it is immensely difficult to choose between treks.

Trek Machu Picchu would be amazing due to its stunning scenery and sacred history.  However having dedicated most of my life to charity and voluntary work a recent stint at an orphanage makes me drawn to the Nepal first hand experience as it  would be a highly rewarding experience in helping to build  homes for the locals..

So..., I am looking forward to having more well travelled stories to tell in the years to come!"

Most of her career has been spent working, supporting and managing the finance functions of charity and not for profit organisations, she quite enjoys knowing that her roles contribute to making sure all runs smoothly financially and ethically.

Sharmee Shah
Finance Executive

“Having joined Charity Challenge almost 4 years ago I haven’t yet experienced any of the exciting and challenging expeditions.  However I would most certainly like to take up the Thailand Jungle Expedition. Having visited Thailand before I would most definitely like to go back and trek through the scenic mountains, rice fields, bamboo forest and interact with the local villagers.”

Born and brought up in Kenya, Sharmee did her travel diploma in London and after graduating moved back to Kenya where she worked for a Travel and Tour Operator. She has worked in the travel industry for the past 13 years. She moved to UK 8 years ago and ever since worked in the travel industry. She joined the finance department at Charity Challenge to get a varied experience.  Travelling is most certainly her hobby and has visited a number of countries and exotic places.

Carmel Hendry
Bookings Manager

I’ve always wanted to visit South-East Asia, so I think that cycling through Vietnam and Cambodia on our Saigon to Angkor Wat Bike Ride would be a fascinating and challenging trip. I’d love to experience the contrast between the colorful temples and markets along the route, and the beautiful and peaceful landscape of the Mekong Delta. Now I just need to start training!"

Carmel’s interest in travel first began after experiencing life in South America. After spending 6 months living in Ecuador and a further 2 travelling around the continent, she decided to continue the study of languages, graduating with a degree in French, Spanish and Latin American Studies. Carmel was lucky enough to spend a year of that degree on a French island in the Caribbean, before setting off again to South America to work as a tour assistant in Argentina and in the travel industry in Ecuador. Since graduating, she has hitchhiked through Europe, worked on a ski resort in France and decided to settle on something slightly safer in the bookings department at Charity Challenge. She has settled on working in travel in order to offer other people the same opportunities that she has had in seeing the beautiful, amazing cultures that the world has to offer.

Raj Joshi
British Chief Medical Officer

Everest Base Camp Trek: “An utterly magical experience. There is something about the place which is deeply spiritual. The journey to the Base Camp of Everest provides you with a challenge where you will be rewarded with some of the world's most awesome views. It is the culture and folk of Nepal  which makes the experience extra special, being some of the most genuine and hospitable people on earth.”

A graduate from Birmingham University, Raj has always had a passion for the mountains and exploration. Much of his spare time has been spent on expeditions with a few close friends. To follow this interest, Raj has taken brief sabbaticals from medicine. This allowed Raj the opportunity to work with Charity Challenge, where he has gained a unique perspective, having been a leader and medical officer on several trips. He is Chief Medical Officer and in charge of the medical operations for the company. Some of his duties include scrutinising every client’s medical details to ensure they are fit for the trip, helping to employ suitable Expedition Medics, training and development of both UK and overseas medical personnel, organisation of comprehensive expedition medical kits. His experience in expedition and remote field medicine not only comes from working with Charity Challenge but through his own expeditions, where he summitted Mount Everest with the British Army in May 2007. In 2009, Raj was fortunate to have been asked by Charity Challenge to lead the celebrity team for the successful Comic Relief expedition on Kilimanjaro. His role as Expedition Leader proved to be immensely enjoyable, if not a somewhat interesting and challenging experience!

Trevor Gibbs
British Challenge Leader

Everest Base Camp "Standing before a matchless vista of towering ice giants was without doubt one of the most awe inspiring experiences of my life. The Himalayan landscapes proved to be everything I expected and more; a land of meandering river valleys and endless pine forests, majestic mountains and unforgettable views."

The world is too small to cram into one life, but having worked in the travel industry now for well over a decade, I have been fortunate enough to experience some of the most spectacular and breathtaking places on the planet, from the towering slopes of the Himalayas, to the burning deserts of Arabia. With a background in design and print, a lifetime of travel has seen me working as a dive master and a ranch hand, a mural artist and an expedition leader, whilst to date I have been involved a growing number of Charity Challenges and Community builds throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America. They say that travel is addictive, if so then I am the happiest addict I know!