Inspiration

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS – A MESSAGE FROM THE BOSS

June 10, 2024
Celebrating 25 years

This year Charity Challenge is proudly celebrating 25 years of inspirational fundraising challenges.

Over the last 25 years, Charity Challenge has supported tens of thousands of participants to take on thousands of challenges, in 50 countries, across 6 continents, which have enabled our participants to raise in excess of £84,000,000 for 2215 charities around the world.

We sit down with the boss, Simon Albert, and get him to share his story.

When I started the company 25 years ago, I wanted to travel the world and raise thousands of pounds for charity.

I was 27 years old, had limited work experience, limited travel experience, and limited money, but a clear vision that I wanted to run my own business, and to do something that I loved. I had climbed Kilimanjaro, trekked to Petra in Jordan, and organised a couple of charity treks voluntarily to Cuba and Tanzania, trekking with the Maasai.

They had all been incredibly different experiences, but all energised this passion for travel and helping others.

25 years on, I am older, wiser, and less fit, but the passion for travel to new places, having new experiences, meeting new people, discovering cultures and religions, and taking on personal challenges, burns as brightly as ever before, more so in fact.

Collectively, our tens of thousands of amazing participants have raised over £84,000,000 for thousands of charities, helping to address poverty, hunger, homelessness, sickness and negative environmental impact.

As I reflect on that journey, I am filled with immense pride for the achievements, joy for the experiences I have been able to have, and huge gratitude to all that have supported and worked alongside me over the years.

Simon Albert, Founder and Managing Director

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Latest News, Sales & Promotions

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS – SUMMER GIVEAWAYS

June 10, 2024

This month Charity Challenge is proudly celebrating 25 years of inspirational fundraising challenges! 

To celebrate such a big milestone, we have decided to go big, not just on our birthday (10th June), but for the whole year. 

You will have lots of opportunities to win some EPIC prizes, and receive BIG savings, so believe me when I say, you will not want to miss out. Make sure you keep an eye on our social channels and emails to be in with a chance to win. 

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Plus, we have an extra special gift for our loyal customers. Anyone who signs up to a Charity Challenge and joins our marketing newsletter here will be in with the chance to WIN A FREE PLACE on one of our life changing overseas challenges, worth over £2000!

Choose from Trek to Machu Picchu, Dalai Lama Himalayan Trek, Saigon to Angkor Wat Bike Ride, Kilimanjaro Summit Climb or The Great Wall Discovery. More details to follow….

Summer Giveaways

To kick off the celebrations this Summer we will be offering you the following birthday treats:

25% off the reg fee on selected challenges

We will be offering you 25% off the registration fee on selected challenges for 25 days! Choose from a wide range of 2024 and 2025 open challenges.

Discounts are available from 9am Monday 10th June until midnight Thursday 4th July 2024.

You must enter the discount code 25BIRTHDAY at the time of booking. Terms and Conditions apply

BOOK NOW

2025 UK Open Challenge Dates are now live!

Can you see yourself trekking under the starry skies of Snowdonia in order to reach the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)? 

Or taking on the three highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales in just 24hrs?

Or maybe being one of the first challengers to sign up to our new Thames Footpath challenge?

Charity Challenge are very pleased to announce the launch of our 2025 UK Open Challenges.

VIEW UK CHALLENGES

Win two free places on the National Three Peaks Challenge

Do you want to take on the three highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales? Considered one of Britain’s toughest outdoor challenges, the National Three Peaks Challenge takes in the dizzy heights of Ben Nevis (1,344m), Scafell Pike (978m) and Snowdon (1,085m) over 42kms in just 24hrs. 

This June we are giving you the chance to win two free places on the National Three Peaks Challenge. 

How to enter the Instagram competition 

  • Follow @charity.challenge 
  • Like this post 
  • Tag a friend that you would like to go on the National Three Peaks Challenge with 
  • Share on your story for an extra entry! 

Competition ends midnight on Sunday 30th June 2024. Winner will be notified by DM. Terms and conditions apply 

ENTER COMPETITION

Lots more giveaways to come over the next year! Make sure you keep an eye on our social channels and marketing newsletter to be in with a chance to win. 

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Over the last 25 years, Charity Challenge has supported tens of thousands of participants to take on thousands of challenges, in 50 countries, across 6 continents, which have enabled our participants to raise in excess of £77,000,000 for 2215 charities around the world.

We sit down with the boss, Simon Albert, and get him to share his story. Celebrating 25 Years – a message from the boss

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Tips & Advice

WHERE TO START – CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT

May 13, 2024

You’ve done the hard part – signed up for a challenge, gathered your team and kickstarted your fundraising. The next hurdle is what to wear… I can hear my mum saying, “it’s not a fashion show!” Whilst she may be right, it is important to wear comfortable, durable and appropriate kit for your challenge day.  

It can be very overwhelming to know where to start with kit, and what is right for your challenge. Here are some tips and things to consider from our experienced team: 

Weather

The Girlguiding slogan “be prepared” comes in handy here! In being prepared for most eventualities when it comes to weather will quash chances of discomfort and contribute to a greater challenge success rate. Making sure to keep your kit light means you can keep several options with you whilst on your challenge, should the weather change unpredictably (especially on a UK challenge…).  

If your challenge is mountainous, it’s important to acknowledge that the temperature and climate will be different at the base and the summit. Cloud cover can signify rain or snow, but could also mean a bright blue sky at the top. Having extra layers, preferably waterproof, reduces the risk of getting chilly at the top, or being limited for what to take off whilst climbing. You’ll also undoubtedly work up a sweat whilst climbing hundreds of metres of elevation, despite sometimes colder temperatures. This sweat will cool inevitably on the way back down as you exert less energy, so those extra layers you previously shed will come in handy. We lose most of our important body heat through our extremities (hands, feet, head) so packing thermal gloves and a woolly hat is a good shout for the colder months. Your Charity Challenge buff will be the perfect active scarf… 

Alternatively, in the warmer climates and hotter months, protecting your head and neck from sunstroke is essential, with a legionnaire’s hat or a bucket hat. You may be trekking through a humid jungle where layers aren’t always appropriate. Wearing light-weight breathable gear in light colours can help prevent aforementioned heatstroke. It’s a knee-jerk reaction to choose sleeveless or short-sleeved tops in this weather but consider bug bites and sharp foliage. 

Comfort

Being uncomfortable in your clothing, both mentally and physically, can greatly impact your productivity and enjoyment on the challenge. Are your shorts too short? The extra fleece was just one too many? Do you need thicker socks? It’s important to feel confident and powerful whilst in your gear, as challenges can be as much of a mental challenge as a physical one. The best way to tackle this, and understand what works best for you, is to wear your gear as much as possible prior to departure. Yes – you may look a little silly hiking down your local high street on a Saturday, but you’ll feel like a pro on the challenge! Through this process of trial and error, you will inevitably feel more trusting in your own ability to smash the challenge, and infinitely less self-conscious. 

Shoes are a massive factor in challenge comfort. The dreaded ‘B word’ (blisters!) can be ultimately destructive to your challenge experience. It is vital that your shoes are well worn in and appropriate for the terrain. We highly recommend that you go into an outdoor shop for a fitting of both your hiking boots and socks. It is so important that the correct size, type or brand has been chosen for your foot shape and the event you are taking part in.

Whilst newer editions of trail shoes (that look similar to gym shoes and trainers than hiking boots) are fantastic for shorter, more predictable walks, they aren’t always suitable for mountain climbs and challenges. The lack of ankle support can contribute to injury and soreness, and the soft soles are great on hard ground, but don’t adapt as well on rocky/gravel laden mountain paths.  

Durability

It’s no surprise that good quality outdoor equipment can be unreasonably expensive, and the market is oversaturated with new gadgets and techy bits promised to ensure your comfort. If you’re not the adventurous type, and are unlikely to use the equipment again, we’d recommend buying second hand equipment or renting your gear from our partner Outdoorhire. This way, you can experience some great quality durable kit that will support you through your challenge without having to fork out, or hoard unnecessary gear. 

If you’re an outdoorsy person, however, kit can make or break your experience. Investing in high quality performance gear will not only make your experience better, but the equipment will last for a long time – which is always nice to hear in this over-consumption era we’re in. Whether you’re climbing up and down the Seven Sisters’ cliffs in Sussex, or summitting Ben Nevis, your kit and clothing should be the last of your concerns!  

Luggage and Packing

Your main luggage bag should be a holdall/duffel bag rather than a suitcase, this makes it easier to transport in the buses as they are more malleable. We recommend to keep your luggage to a maximum of 15kg, so don’t overpack! You will need to be able to carry your bags on and off transport to the accommodation/campgrounds, so a comfortable bag that is able to be carried is essential. 

A useful tip for packing is to compartmentalise your clothing and you can use dry bags or zip lock bags to do this. For example, you could have a bag for underwear and socks; and another for t-shirts and pyjamas. The important thing is to not over pack and lay things out so you can see everything in one go. Make sure you have everything you need, then if you have space, add some additional things. 

You will also need a day sack which you can take as your hand luggage on the plane and use for the items you’ll need each day on the challenge. Your day sack should have a thick waist strap for maximum comfort. Other things to consider are back ventilation, hydration compatibility and gear loops for stowing walking poles. Waterproof liners or bags are essential for keeping valuables and clothes dry within your pack. Portable chargers or power banks containing a lithium ion battery must be packed in carry-on bags. Specific regulations regarding power banks may vary depending on the airline, the country you’re traveling to, and the type and capacity of the power bank. It’s always a good idea to check with the airline and the destination country’s regulations before your flight to ensure that you comply with their specific rules regarding power banks.

Participant discounts

As a Charity Challenge participant, you will get members only benefits and discounts at a wide range of clothing and equipment suppliers including Outdoorhire, Cotswold Outdoor, Runners Needs, Snow + Rock, Water to Go, The Altitude Centre, Sporttape and Nomad & MASTA. Check out the Clothing and Equipment section in your account area for more information.

Learn more about our clothing and equipment partners here

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Inspiration

MEET THE TEAM – SHARMEE SHAH

April 18, 2024

At Charity Challenge we are extremely proud of the amazing crew we have. We know it can be a little daunting joining a challenge for the first time so we thought you might like to meet the team in advance of your Charity Challenge. Today we introduce you to our Finance Executive – Sharmee Shah

Charity Challenge Finance Executive, Sharmee Shah

Name

Sharmee Shah

How long have you been part of the Charity Challenge team?

I will be completing 16 years this year and am one of the longest serving team members at Charity Challenge.

Charity Challenge Finance Executive, Sharmee Shah

What’s your role at Charity Challenge?

I work within the Finance team as a Finance Executive. This involves dealing with day-to-day financial queries with the various stakeholders.

Tell us a little bit about your background and what you did before joining Charity Challenge?

Being born and brought up in Kenya, I discovered a passion for travel at a young age spending large parts of my holidays in the various world-famous Game Parks at my doorstep. Since graduating, I always worked in travel both back in Kenya and the UK.

Charity Challenge Finance Executive, Sharmee Shah

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy the flexibility, work-life balance and above all being part of a fantastic team.

What advice would you give someone who is looking to do a Charity Challenge?

Apart from physical readiness it is important to read all the professional advice, information and the FAQs provided by Charity Challenge. Also, it’s good to research about the culture and traditions of the countries in which you are looking to do the challenge.

Charity Challenge Finance Executive, Sharmee Shah

What’s been your favourite charity challenge (so far)?

I am yet to join a Charity Challenge. I’m still waiting to choose from the chocolate box! I did however do a 2-day Sapa Hill Tribe Trek in Vietnam. The scenery was breath-taking, and I am hoping to convince Charity Challenge to re-introduce it back into the portfolio.

Do you have any challenges left on your bucket list?

All the Challenges we offer but at the top of my bucket list is Trek To Petra.

Charity Challenge Finance Executive, Sharmee Shah

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself…

I have spent time with orphaned baby Orangutans as part of a trip to a rescue & rehabilitation sanctuary in Borneo. They are the cheekiest and smartest mammals.

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Tips & Advice

CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT PARTICIPANT DISCOUNTS

April 4, 2024

The kit you use and the clothing you wear can have a huge impact on your challenge experience.  So it’s really important that you have the right kit with you. Keeping warm when its cold, and dry when its wet can make the difference between a great challenge, and a miserable one.

We understand that good kit doesn’t come cheap, and shopping around can be time consuming. So we have teamed up with outdoor clothing and equipment specialists to offer you a range of discounted kit, perfectly tailored to your challenge!

Outdoorhire

Outdoorhire is a leading UK provider of hire equipment for trekking, hiking, snow safety gear, climbing, camping and other activities. They aim to ensure you receive the highest quality products and services. They provide hire equipment from top-ranking brands such as Mountain Hardwear, Montane, Mountain Equipment, Black Diamond, Scarpa and Petzl, all available to hire at a fraction of their retail price. The Outdoorhire team has decades of experience in the outdoors and are passionate about what they do. Based in East Sussex, they courier to anywhere in the United Kingdom. When you’re finished with the equipment they collect it so you don’t have to worry about storing or caring for it.

Outdoorhire are delighted to offer participants a 10% discount off any order. T&C’s apply. Details can be found in your participant account area.

Cotswold Outdoor

For 50 years, Cotswold Outdoor has been helping people explore the landscapes that bring them joy. Offering specialist advice on quality clothing, equipment and accessories from the best outdoor brands. With over 70 stores across the UK, their passionate and knowledgeable staff inspire customers to find the right fit through in-store boot and rucksack fitting services. That’s matched by a genuine commitment to minimising their environmental impact and protecting our happy places by helping customers make the right choice with quality kit that lasts. Supported by in-store services such as expert footwear protection and their Recycle My Gear recycling scheme.

Cotswold Outdoor are pleased to offer support to Charity Challenge participants through their Explore More scheme. By creating an Explore More account, you gain immediate access to members-only benefits from exclusive offers to extended warranty, and it’s completely free. Sign up here: Explore More | Cotswold Outdoor

Runners Need

Runners Need is built on a philosophy of inspiration, self-improvement and the belief that it’s never too late to start running. With over 60 stores and 8 million active runners across the UK, Runners Need are all about helping runners find the right kit from the world’s best brands to smash their goals. Whatever your run distance, style or terrain, their kit specialists are here to help you every step of the way. That’s matched by a genuine commitment to minimising their environmental impact by helping and encouraging people to buy quality kit that lasts to protect our happy places. Through championing responsible brands, expert services like in-store gait analysis and electronics advice to help you get out there with confidence.

Runners Need are pleased to offer support to Charity Challenge participants through their Explore More scheme. By creating an Explore More account, you gain immediate access to members-only benefits from exclusive offers to extended warranty, and it’s completely free. Sign up here: Explore More | Runners Need

Snow + Rock

With over four decades of experience, Snow+Rock thrives on pushing boundaries and standing out. Pioneers from the beginning, they continue to champion the best snow and outdoor brands. Bringing customers premium clothing and equipment guaranteed to perform in the wildest landscapes that make you smile. Spanning the UK, Snow+Rock offers one-to-one appointments and personalised advice from dedicated outdoor and snowsports gear specialists, from ski boot and rucksack fittings to custom adventure gear lists. 

Not only helping you find the right gear but supporting Snow+Rock’s commitment to minimising their environmental impact. Encouraging their community to make the right choice with gear that lasts, championing planet-friendly brands and Recycle My Gear services that keep gear out of landfill. Devoted to the finer details that make all the difference, whether you’re a hiker, mountaineer, skier or snowboarder, with their specialist knowledge, there’s no adventure they can’t help you conquer.

Snow + Rock are pleased to offer support to Charity Challenge participants through their Explore More scheme. By creating an Explore More account, you gain immediate access to members-only benefits from exclusive offers to extended warranty, and it’s completely free. Sign up here: Explore More | Snow+Rock

Water-to-Go

Water-to-Go is a water filter bottle that eliminates up to 99.9999% of all microbiological contaminants including viruses, bacteria, chemicals, and heavy metals from any non-saltwater source in the world, providing safe drinking water wherever you are. The filters used in the BPA free water bottles are created based on technology originally developed for the NASA space programme.

Responsible travel has always underpinned the mission at Charity Challenge, but now we want to go further to reduce our impact on the environment and, among other initiatives, by reducing single-use plastic pollution. Charity Challenge customers can help with this by taking a Water-to-Go filter bottle with them.

By purchasing a Water-to-Go product using the code found in your participant account area, you will receive a 15% discount, and 15% of the sale will also towards Charity Challenge and their projects. T&C’s apply.

Nomad & MASTA – Trusted Travel Health Partner

We’re proud to partner with Nomad and MASTA, trusted leaders in travel health with over 40 years of experience. With a network of more than 90 clinics across the UK, their expert team provides tailored risk assessments based on your destination and health needs. They offer essential vaccinations, medications, and medical kits to prepare you for your journey, while also answering any travel health queries to ensure you travel prepared and protected.

As an exclusive benefit, when you book through our referral link, your appointment fee is completely free of charge. Details can be found in your participant account area.

Please note that vaccinations and products received at the appointment are charged separately*

Sporttape

At Charity Challenge we know being injured sucks. Using kinesiology tape and sports tapes can help protect you against injury (especially blisters!) and support recovery.  Our Challenge Leaders have been using these products for years, however now we want to make them accessible to you, our participants.  That is why we are delighted to announce our new partnership with SPORTTAPE.

SPORTTAPE was born out of a passion to help other athletes (get injured less and recover faster). They are a family business, with sport in their DNA, and they are on a mission to support a million athletes a week with tapes they can trust.

SPORTTAPE are delighted to offer participants a 10% discount to all Charity Challenge participants. T&C’s apply. Details can be found in your participant account area.

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Tips & Advice

WHERE TO START – NUTRITION AND HYDRATION

March 12, 2024

This week is Nutrition and Hydration week so we wanted to share the importance of good nutrition and keeping well hydrated when you are out on a challenge. When you take care of what you put into your body, it will perform better for you, similar to a car.

If you have ever been out on a challenge with us you would have most likely heard one of our leaders saying “sippy sippy”. It is much better for you if you drink small amounts often instead of gulping loads of water infrequently. By taking smaller sips it will mean you are keeping continually hydrated. Staying hydrated can help you to improve your muscle function, regulate your blood pressure and improve your circulation. Plus you are more likely to absorb the water than have the urge to pee. We know how much you all hate peeing in the outdoors!

At high altitude and during exercise your fluid needs increase dramatically and hydration is vital, not least to help
prevent Altitude Sickness. There are various ways to get the right fluids into your body, with many people using water
bladders or bottles. Another alternative is a wide-mouth bottle with a drinking tube adaptor.

It is also really important to be aware that when you sweat, you lose electrolytes, which can drain your energy. The biggest sign of your body being low in electrolytes is muscle cramping, which can be debilitating for physical performance. It is also common to experience dizziness, confusion and an irregular heartbeat. You need to replace lost salts by regularly snacking on foods high in sodium, potassium and magnesium, or by adding electrolytes to your water.

Your body is like a car engine that can run off both petrol (carbs) and diesel (fat). The human body has the ability to burn both, the intensity of the exercise will dictate what fuel you burn, the higher the intensity, the more carbohydrates are required. When out hiking, you are going to encounter a mixture of high intensity and low intensity exertion as the terrain changes. You need to have an adequate mixture of food when out and about, so you are not riding the roller-coaster of sugar spikes and crashes*

We asked our Challenge Leaders “what are your go to snacks to keep you fuelled and hydrated on a challenge?”

  • PHIL NELSON : Having tried all manner of weird and wonderful things over the years, my tip is to just eat things you like and lots of them. Sometimes participants turn up with lots of energy gels and electrolyte powders for water, which are all good but sometimes, real food is not taken too. These gels and powders are no substitute for real food and on a mountain, you may be walking all day, burning thousands of calories. My go to snacks for the UK is a good old fashioned meal deal; sandwich, snack like a samosa or pork pie, some chocolate bars, bags of salty crisps if its hot weather to replace lost salts, and a pack of sweets like Jelly Babies or Sour Patch Kids. To drink, I find water a little boring so often carry one of those little squeezy bottles of squash to jazz it up…if it tastes nice then I’ll drink more!
  • RAY SMITH : Chunky Kitkats (it’s an art packing them in your rucksack so they don’t melt in the heat) and SiS Hydration tablets in my water.
  • IAN WADDINGTON : My go to snack on the hill is a Go Bar, for me it is the right combination of carbohydrate with a bit of sweetness.  I usually have some sort of ’treat’ though.  
  • STEVE BERRY : Water and lots of it, always works for me!
  • LIZZY CODD : Something salty such as cashew nuts and something sweet such as jelly babies.  Water + salt + sugar = no need for horrid rehydration tabs! 
  • LOUISE ALLEN : I try to eat healthy on challenges so my go to snacks would be carrots and houmous, malt loaf and salted corn.
  • IAN MORTON : Lots of water, Babybels and Tunnocks Bars…
  • STEPH MILLER : Nuts! I’m nuts about nuts! I love granola bars / flapjacks and I keep myself topped up with those all important electrolytes so I can stay hydrated #hydrohomie.
  • JOHN ALLEN : I quite like dried mango. It’s a taste of sunshine, which is nice when the rain is lashing down!  Just plain water for me as it can be used for more than just drinking. Try washing your hands or cleaning a wound with a sports drink!
  • DANNY BARDEN : Nakd bars and a dark chocolate, honey roast peanut and dried mango pieces trail mix.
  • PENNY KNIGHT : My go to snacks are flapjacks and salted peanuts – tasty, cheap and packed with calories!
  • DUNCAN TURNBULL : I love pork pies, crisps, and my own special trail mix of mixed nuts, dried fruit, dried bananas, and Smarties yum yum!! Plus plenty of water. The reason for the pork pies and crisps is the high calorie intake to replace calories burned during ascents and crisps to help salt replacement!
  • TOM ARMES : Anything with chocolate on lol ….and Haribo’s plus I do like orange squash in my water rather than just plain water !
  • COLIN LOVELL : Surprisingly on overseas trips I don’t usually worry about snacks. Food is always good enough. For hydration lots of electrolyte tablets and isotonic powders added to water and recovery drinks with milk afterwards.
  • RICHARD SIMPKIN : Obviously I should have some really sensible and practical answers but I reckon that snacks should be something you enjoy, so Tunnocks bars (I believe that you have to carry them by law in some destinations) and Sports Mixtures……

As you can see for the list above, everyone has their own favourite way to keep fueled and hydrated on a challenge. The key is to find something that works for you. Experiment with different snacks while you are out training and try to take notice of the effect it has on your body. We dont want a roller-coaster of sugar spikes and crashes.

And remember, when you have been on the go all day there is nothing nicer that tucking into one of your favourite treats to give you the final push you need to get to the finish line!

*sources : https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/guides/nutrition-hiking-hill-walking/

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