Across the Divide organises ‘Ride of Britain’ for Ben Fogle and James Cracknell in aid of SSAFA Forces Help

Across the Divide, has stepped up to the challenge by organising an extreme event for charity in the space of just ten days.

The challenge event specialist was approached by the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) Forces Help, to manage the operations of an expedition being undertaken in support of the charity by well known adventurers Ben Fogle and James Cracknell.

On October 3, the pair began a 450 mile, non-stop rickshaw marathon from Edinburgh to London, completing the challenge in just 53 hours, to arrive in London in time for the Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards.  Throughout the duration of the gruelling expedition, Ben and James cycled both day and night, taking it in turns to rest for short periods of time.

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UK event update

We are now over half way in our UK event season and we thought you’d like to know the latest from our recent events.  We still have Just Bike, Oxfam Trail Trekker Ireland and Maggies Night hike all up and coming so we can’t quite relax just yet.  We have jotted down some feedback from the two Barclays events in Manchester and London raising funds for UNICEF and the Capgemini Wild Challenge for the Prince’s Trust.

Another successful CSR Project

As part of their management training programme, Amlin, recently completed a 3-day CSR project.  The project included 2-days at Newlands Bishop Farm in Solihull, which is a social enterprise run by adults with learning difficulties.   The farm is helping young people of all abilities to find their feet and to grow in confidence and ability, whilst providing work, training and social skills for those involved.

The Amlin group built a shelter for recycling rain water which is next to the allotment.  The allotment provides food for the farm to sell.  They then built an irrigation system to fill water butts (which is about 5,000 litres) which helps water the garden and vegetables.  Then finished off by creating a farm shop out of an old stable to sell the produce in.  A fantastic achievement by all in just 2 days!   Why not do something like this within your company?  www.csrprojects.com

‘Just’ Charity Challenges for 2009/ 2010

JUST EVENTS

Here are just a selection of some of the Just Charity Challenges we are running in 2009/2010

Just Bike is rapidly approaching, now just over 3 months away! We have over 20 charities actively promoting this event and lots more signing up.  Remember you can cycle for the charity of your choice and choose either the 50km or 100km route.  Find out more at Just Bike.

Just Walk 2010’s date has been set, 15 May 2010 and is promising to be our biggest one yet.  We are expecting over 1000 walkers so get yourself signed up on either the 10km, 20km, 40km or 60km route,  choose your charity – then away we go, it’s that easy, book your place now.

UK Three Peaks Challenge 21-23 August 2009.  An iconic British Challenge, as participants scale the three highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland.  In total you will climb over 11,000ft of mountain within the target time of 36 hours – a lifetime experience and one to be immensely proud of.

Vietnam Trek 27 February – 8 March 2010.  A stunning trek in the remote region of Sapa.  Beautiful scenery and the chance to experience the culture of the local tribes makes this a fantastic challenge for any fundraiser. 

Pike Peak 19 – 29 November 2010.  This is a challenging trek through the most beautiful and remote parts of the Himalayas.  Our route is off the beaten track and allows access to hidden monasteries.  A wonderful sense of achievement as you reach the summit of Pike Peak.

For more details on the Just Events click here overseas or UK

Malawi site visit carried out by Across the Divide

Across the Divide managing director Mark Hannaford has just recently returned from carrying out a site visit to the east African country of Malawi

Malawi in one of the poorest nations in the world but inhabited seemingly by some of the world friendliest – their catch phrase is that they are the ‘sunny heart of Africa’ and my experiences seem to bear this out.   The scenery also exceeded my expectations with a great deal more variation than I expected from high but accessible mountains to verdant tea plantations as well as numerous small traditional African villages easily matching most people’s expectations of the ‘real’ Africa.   It is also a highly traditional country with a well established network of missions dating back to Livingstone’s age of exploration engaged in a wide range of community initiatives along with a number of enlightened tourism operators who have also established a wide network of charitable or CSR projects – one of Across the Divide’s area of growth.

There are a number of excellent trekking areas in both the south on Mount Mulange and to the north of the country near the Ntchisi  Forest Reserve which has the additional benefit of being only two hour’s drive from Lilongwe and which will, with further investigation, yield some excellent and worthwhile projects.   A wide range of water sports are available on Lake Malawi including multi day kayaking trips.  

Will we be including Malawi in out list of destinations – yes you bet we are.

Many thanks for to the Malawi Tourism Marketing Consortium for helping making the  in-country arrangements.

Everest Base Camp Trek, Nepal

We’ve put to together a small photographic journey up the Khumbu Valley to Everest Base Camp- hopefully it will inspire you to join us getting healthy, raising money for charity and having a great adventure, we hope you enjoy it! 

This is your ultimate trekking challenge following in the footsteps of Hilary and Tensing Norgay, into the region where traditionally base camps have been erected for expeditions attempting to summit Everest. Supported by Across the Divide’s famous standards for safety and group management the challenge will provide you with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fundraise for your charity.

The trek follows the main route up to Base Camp and passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.   Everest becomes visible from just above Namche Bazaar and as we move through an ever changing environment and leave the tree line behind, the views of the mountains become more pronounced.

Fancy taking up the challenge then contact Susan now on susan@acrossthedivide.com or check out the webpage at http://www.acrossthedivide.com/Nepal.asp

Across the Divide Trek in Lesotho for BT

Trekking in Lesotho with Across the Divide

YouTube video curtesy of Tony Greenwood

Our charity treks and projects in Lesotho offer a chance to step back in time to a place where the motor vehicle does not exist. The Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho is much underrated and hidden behind the glamour of its larger neighbour, South Africa, but our challenges offer a chance to explore this fascinating country before the inevitable step of progress treks across this hidden land.Lesotho is a world without fences and is one of Africa’s hidden gems. Known as the ‘Mountain Kingdom’ or the ‘Kingdom of the Sky’, it is surrounded entirely by South Africa and has the distinction of having the highest low point of any country in the world.

It a fascinating country, and one that we feel privileged to visit..

Our Lesotho page

YouTube video curtesy of bhumiamin