All I want for Christmas is you…

Mariah Carey once said, all I want for Christmas is you and when it comes to our 2016/17 challenges these lyrics couldn't be truer with all of them set to be EPIC you will want them all!

Here is the Perfect Challenge Bucket List for you to send to Santa...

Dear Santa…

I have been very good this year and next year I want to be even better by taking on a new challenge and raising money for a really good cause. So here is my bucket list for 2016…

Be part of a team...

This year I want to join together with my colleagues or friends to take on a challenge to raise money for charity.  Here are the top team challenges I would like to do…

Ben Nevis Charity Challenge –Teams of four are challenged to climb Ben Nevis, cycle 25 miles (on road) and canoe Loch Lochy.

Race the Sun Lake District - Teams of four are challenged to cycle 50 miles, climb Helvellyn and canoe Lake Thirlmere. Starting at sunrise and finishing by sunset - Racing the Sun!

Be on top of the world...

What better way than to feel on top of the world than to climb a mountain? So Santa please can I go on a once in a life-time trek to the summit of MountKilimanjaro and raise funds for charity.

At 5896m Mt Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and is rightly referred to as 'the roof of Africa’ so it really will feel like I am on top of the world!

Support a children’s charity…

I would like to trek through the stunning Himalayas and raise funds for a children's charity of my choice. Therefore Santa all I want for Christmas is…

Let's Trek for Children inIndia entails five days of trekking starting in Dharamsala the spiritual home of the Dalai Lama. Trekking through spectacular mountain landscapes and sleep under the stars in remote mountain camps as we head for our finish line at Laka Got (3,550m) well above the Himalya snow-line. This amazing Indian adventure culminates with a visit to the breath-taking Taj Mahal in Agra.

Help beat cancer...

In 2016 I want to make a difference and help raise money for cancer charities. There are lots of amazing challenges I can do this for but on my bucket list I would like to put….

Britain V Cancer - Hike the Himalayas in beautiful Nepal to raise funds for the cancer charity or hospice of my choice.The challenge is on to trek to Poon Hill (3,210m) in the stunning Annapurna region. The trek will take us through charming Nepalese villages where we will experience the culture of the mountain people of Nepal first hand.

Support the fight against heart disease…

Heart disease is one of the biggest killers in the UK, with someone having a heart attack every 7 minutes. In 2016 I want to help the fight against heart disease by taking part in the following challenge to raise funds for a heart charity of my choice…

The Big Heart Bike Ride in Africa entails five days of consecutive cycling for a distance of 360km across Tanzania, starting in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro and finishing at the impressive Ngorongoro Crater, where there will be the option to do a safari. Along the way we will cycle past three national parks and experience the life and culture of the colourful Maasai tribe in their natural environment.

Challenge my fitness...

Each year after I have scoffed my last mince pie of the festive season I think next year I will get fit and challenge myself. In 2016 I am going to make this happen. So what better way than to have a challenge to aim for giving me a real carrot to work towards. Santa, on my bucket list please can I put…

Trek Jordan entails five days of trekking starting at the Dead Sea and finishing at the red rock city of Petra. Accompanied by Bedouin guides you will trek through mountain and desert terrain using ancient trails. You will sleep under the stars in remote desert camps en route to the beautiful city of Petra.

Trek Jordan is open to people of all ages and from all walks of life who will come together to do something amazing.

Start a new hobby and meet new people…

OK, so I admit that in 2013 I started spinning as my new hobby and only went twice. But this year it will be different as I will have something to train for to keep myself motivated and on track. This year I am going to start cycling so Santa all I want for Christmas is…

London to Paris Bike Ride - The challenge is on to cycle 237 miles in just three days! The ride will take you through rolling English countryside and the breath-taking panorama of Northern France to a spectacular finish at the Eiffel Tower.

There will be a huge amount of fun and friendship along the way as cyclists of all abilities take up this special challenge.

See the world in a different way...

I love travelling and seeing the world! And 2016 I want to do travel in a different way experiencing cultures and landscapes close up. So Santa all I want for Christmas is…

Cycle China - Join us for a spectacular 400km cycle challenge across the Beijing province and visit the amazing Great Wall of China to raise funds for the charity of your choice. The challenge entails five days of cycling and en-route we will visit remote sections of the Great Wall of China. The cycling is challenging but the panoramic views are stunning. At the end of the challenge there is the opportunity to explore Beijing and its Forbidden City.

Trek Borneo - The challenge is on to trek to the summit of Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia's highest peak at 4,095m. There will be a real sense of adventure as you have the opportunity to undertake day and night time treks in the Bornean rain forest. However the highlight for most on the challenge will be a visit to the Orangutan sanctuary in Sepilok.

Be a part of something AMAZING!

In 2016 I want to say I did that! I want to say I was part of that! With all the bucket list challenges I know I will have achieved something amazing and supported great charities by doing it.

In 2015 over 4000 people took part in Dream Challenges and Action for Charity 20 challenges raising a staggering £4 million pounds for a variety of charities. There are so many more ways I could get involved to #Make2016Count and I can’t wait!

Feel Inspired? To find out more about Dream Challenges events please visit the website or contact us directly: 

W: www.actionforcharity.co.uk . E: events@dreamchallenges.co.uk T: 01590 646410

Wow, 2015 what a year!

2015 has been an epic year in the Dream Challenges and Action for Charity offices. Nearly four thousand of you wonderful people took part in one or more of the 20 challenges. We are always so proud of our challengers and this year has been no exception!

In total your hard work has raised nearly a staggering four million pounds a variety of charities.

So where did this year take us?

We thought we would take a quick look at all the challenges we have run this year….let us know your highlights in the comment box below please!

January…

Trek Uganda – nineteen of you took this amazing trek on through ‘The Impenetrable Forest’ in Uganda’s mountainous far southwestern tip, who enjoyed tracking Mountain Gorillas?

February…

Big Heart Bike Ride in India – A staggering sixty three if you took on a 470km cycle challenge in rural Rajasthan to raise funds for the heart charity of your choice. You raised a whopping £165k for heart charities! What was your favourite moment? Seeing the Taj Mahal or completing the event?

Mount Kilimanjaro Trek - I bet our challengers who kick started 2015 by doing this once in a life-time trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro will find February 2016 a little tamer! At 5896m Mt Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and is rightly referred to as 'the roof of Africa' and you wonderful people have now been to the top. High fives team! 

April…

Lets Trek for Children Jordan – This event was all about raising money for children’s charities and you did just that raising a huge £33k between just thirty four of you. The Jordan Desert Trek entailed five days of trekking starting at the Dead Sea and finishing in the red rock city of Petra. Accompanied by Bedouin guides trekked through mountain and desert terrain using ancient trails. Who enjoyed sleeping under the stars in the Desert camps?

May…

Women V Cancer Ride the Night – This epic event reached new heights this year with nearly 2000 of you taking part in the 100k bike ride in London – it was a sea of pink tutus and tshirts as you cycled raising money for Breast Cancer Care, Ovarian Cancer Action and Jos Cervical Cancer Trust. The fundraising total reached dizzying heights of £950k!!! Why not join us in 2016 and help us raise more?

June…

Ben Nevis Charity Challenge – This year eighty eight teams of four climbed Ben Nevis, cycled 25 miles and canoed a loch all against the clock, in total they raised £250k for a variety of charities! The winning team arriving first in seven hours and fifteen minutes where Character Builders South West, a team of four brothers raising funds for Devon Air Ambulance

Snowdonia Charity Challenge - High fives to all two hundred and eighty eight of you who took on this challenge for completing the 40 miles of cycling, climbing Snowdon and canoeing Lake Gwynant! You raised £204k for Regain the only charitable organisation dedicated solely to improving the lives of men and women who have become tetraplegic in a sporting accident.

Race the Sun Brecon Beacons - Three hundred and twenty eight of in your teams met at sunrise in the stunning Brecon Beacons. Your challenge was to cycle 47 miles, climb Pen y Fan and canoe the Pontsticill Reservoir. You all raced the sun finishing at sun set raising an impressive £204k for which will support the work of children's charity Action Medical Research, offering hope to the many thousands of families across the UK. Cant wait to see you all next year!

July…

Three Peaks Challenge- Talk about ticking three things of a bucket list all in one challenge! That’s what one hundred and fifty of you did in July when in teams you climbed Ben Nevis, Scaffel Pike and Snowdon raining £67k for Action Medical Research. Who enjoyed the well earnt breakfast at the foot of Snowdon?

August…

Tour De Mercers - Our bespoke event for The Mercers Charitable Foundation “Tour De Mercers” saw the team cycle for six days from Berwick upon Tweed to Mercers Hall in the City of London. This challenge was not for the weak legged as they took on hills, cycled rough terrain, navigated towns…you name it they cycled it!!!

Race the Sun Lake District - This year two hundred and twenty of you raised a huge £142k to support the work of children's charity Action Medical Research. You worked hard for your sponsorship by cycling 50 miles, climbing Helvellyn and canoe Lake Thirlmere. Starting at sunrise and finishing by sunset - Racing the Sun!

September…

London to Paris - This ride was just epic with one hundred and twenty of you creating great camaraderie before and during this three day cycle from London to Paris. How proud are you all for cycling 237 miles in just three days raising £130k for charity? What was your favourite moment – the Eifel tower finish perhaps?

Ben Nevis Charity Challenge - Due to the challenge filling up so quickly in June we ran two Ben Nevis Charity Challenges this year! With two hundred and sixteen of you raising £93k for charities on the second event we are glad that we did! High fives to you all, you can now officially say #BeenThereDoneNevis

Great Wall of China Trek - Step by step was the motto of this trek! The video and the photos say it all. This was no easy challenge, taking our eighty six particpants to dizzying heights with stunning views but hard work along the way. Paid off with a staggering £22k raised for a variety of charities.

October…

Cycle Cuba- Viva Cuba! This event is one of our director Ann Frampton’s favourite as she loves the Cuban life.  Highfives to all sixty nine of you who raised £150k for a variety of charities on this 400km across this fun island.

Women V Cancer Africa Ride - This year we took two hundred and fifty keen female cyclists to Tanzania, they raised a jaw dropping £1,054, 715 for Breast Cancer Care, Ovarian Cancer Action and Jos Cervical Cancer Trust. The ride was a stunning 350km ride across Tanzania, starting in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro and finishing at the impressive Ngorongoro Crater! Wow ladies talk about that girl can.

November…

Cycle India - This year we created a bespoke event Cycle India for The Urology Foundation. Team work makes the dream work was their motto as the thirty five participants all helped each other cycle 410km across the Rajashtan region in five days. In total they raised a huge £200k to support the amazing work of the Urology Foundation.

Trek Borneo - You wonderful trekkers only returned a few weeks ago after twenty three of you hiked through the the 140 million year old rainforest that covers much of the island. We hoped you loved experiencing the many thousands of plant, animal and bird species.  What was your highlight? Perhaps visiting the Orangutan Sanctuary or reaching the peak of Mount Kinabalu at sunrise?

Thank you…

A big thank you to all of you for making 2015 such a good year.

Thanks to our office staff for working so hard, thank you to all our event doctors, event leaders, ground handlers, event assistants , mechanics, cycle guides, Ride the Night Pink Angels, the caterers who fuel the challenge fire and of course Sadie the office dog for being wooftastic!

High fives to all our charity partners the work you do all year round is also epic and we love being able to help your supporters raise funds for you.

We want to wish you all a very happy festive season and why not take on another challenge to make 2016 just as epic as 2015? #Make2016Count 

Feel Inspired? To find out more about Dream Challenges events please visit the website or contact us directly: 

W: www.actionforcharity.co.uk . E: events@dreamchallenges.co.uk T: 01590 646410

Britain V Cancer Trek Nepal 2017

Britain V Cancer is a very special and unique event as everyone that takes part in the challenge will be raising funds for the cancer charity or hospice of their choice. It will be life-changing in many ways, for you the individual who will achieve your own personal challenge and for the people across Britain who will benefit from the incredible work carried out by the cancer charities and hospices you choose to support.

Hike the Himalayas in beautiful Nepal to raise funds for the cancer charity or hospice of your choice. The challenge is on to trek to Poon Hill (3,210m) in the stunning Annapurna region. The trek will take us through charming Nepalese villages where we will experience the culture of the mountain people of Nepal first hand. The challenge will be tough but the friendship and camaraderie along the way will be very special.

You can make a real difference in the fight against cancer by signing up for the next Britain V Cancer challenge. In 2015 Britain V Cancer Trek Jordan raised around £250k for a variety of cancer charities. Which makes us really excited for Trek Nepal 2017 as we know we can raise the same amount if not more.

Here is the itinerary for the event so you can get a taste of what to expect on this stunning trek.

Day One Flight from London to Kathmandu, arriving the next day.

Day Two Kathmandu

We arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to our hotel. A pre-trek briefing will be given late afternoon and each trekker will be issued with a trek pack. This evening we eat at one of Kathmandu’s fine Nepali restaurants.

Day Three Fly to Pokhara and trek to Syauli (1,230m)

We leave the hotel fairly early to transfer to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu airport. From here we fly to Pokhara. The flight is approx. 25 minutes and gives us spectacular views of the Himalayas. After arriving in Pokhara we will be transferred to the starting point of our challenge at Nayapool. Our first day’s trek follows the sub-tropical

Modi Khola river valley to Birethanti, a large village on the old Nepal-Tibet trading route. We overnight in the pretty village of Syauli, here we enjoy superb views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhare.  Trekking 4 hours approx.

Day Four Trek Syauli to Ghandruk (1,950m)

Today the challenge begins in earnest! We start with a steady ascent up a stone staircase high above the river valley, look out for the birds of prey! A short but steep climb leads us to Kimche (1,630m) where we can take a well-deserved break. We then continue on to Chane following a wide, well-defined path, we soon reach the largest village of the region, Ghandruk. This Gurung village is well known for the number of its men-folk who have served in the British Gurkha regiments. Our lodge is located in the heart of the village where we enjoy fine mountain views of Annapurna South and beautiful Machhapuchhare.  Trekking 6 hours approx.

Day Five Trek Ghandruk to Tadapani (2,700m)

Another day of ascending! Leaving the terraced hillsides behind, we enter oak and beautiful rhododendron forest for one of the most stunning parts of the trek. The forest is alive with the sound of birds, small tumbling waterfalls and the rhododendrons should be in full bloom at this time of year. There are stunning views of the Himalayas along the way today. Our lodge is in Tadapani tonight and is the perfect setting for sunset and sunrise views. Trekking 6 hours approx.

Day Six Trek Tadapani to Ghorepani (2,780m)

 We rise early to view the beautiful sunrise over the Himalayas. Today’s trek starts with a series of ascents and descents through stunning rhododendron forest. We reach Bhantanti for an early lunch and in the afternoon we cross a small series of small streams as we ascend through the forest to reach the open ridges at Deurali (2,987m) here we enjoy panoramic views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. We continue on to Ghorepani (2,780m) where we overnight. Trekking 6 hours approx.

Day Seven Poon Hill (3,210m) to Tirkedunga (1,550m)

We’re up early to trek to Poon Hill, one of Nepal’s best view points. We arrive by torchlight just before sunrise, in time to enjoy fabulous mountain views across the Himalayas. In fine conditions Dhaulagiri I (8,167m) and its satellite peaks dominate the western skyline. We reluctantly drop back down to Ghorepani for breakfast and then begin the day’s walk, which is downhill through beautiful forests to the village of Ulleri, where we have lunch. In the afternoon there is a steep descent down to the Bhurungdi Khola River where we cross a small suspension bridge before reaching the village of Tirkedunga, where we overnight. Trekking 8 hours approx.

Day Eight Trek Tirkedunga to Nayapool and transfer to Pokhara (850m)

Our last days trekking sees us follow the Bhurungdi River down to the village of Birethanti. Here we have an early lunch before heading to Nayapool where we say farewell to our porters and board the coach back to Pokhara. We overnight at a hotel near to the lakeside. After a welcomed shower, the rest of the afternoon is free to explore this fascinating town; take a boat out on the lake and enjoy some of the many shopping opportunities. This evening we dine out together at a Nepali restaurant.  Trekking 4 hours approx.

Day Nine Fly to Kathmandu

After breakfast we are transferred to the airport for the return flight to Kathmandu. We are then met at the airport and taken back to our hotel. This afternoon is free to do sightseeing and shopping in downtown Kathmandu. This evening we celebrate our achievements.

Day Ten Depart Kathmandu

More free time in Kathmandu before we depart for our return flight to the UK

Day Eleven Arrive back in UK.

More from our Ground handlers in Nepal…

We had clients from Australia who had recently visited the Upper Mustang Area of Nepal. A member of the team, named Leanne has written a small trip review.

"Having just completed a wonderful trip to Nepal and seeing Kathmandu, Pokhara, Jomson and beyond, I would strongly advise anyone who's been thinking of a trip to Nepal to book it now!

What I saw on the news and what I saw during my stay was quite different. Flying over the the city it was hard to see very much damage at all. Clearly the building codes for Kathmandu work. I visited Kathmandu Durbar Square and was shattered to see the damage to this historic site, on the upside work is in full swing to restore the monuments and buildings.

I was impressed to hear how engineers had checked all the hotels. Any which were suspect have been closed till repairs or demolition takes place.

Our trip ran very smoothly with no hold ups. Clearly things are back to normal even with the Monsoon. There are many businesses relying on tourists, the best way to support local people is to occupy the tea houses, buy things from the stalls and shops and use guides, porters and horsemen. Visit Nepal, it's such an amazing place." Leanne Guy, TJ Chick Builders Pty Ltd

Make sure you dont miss out on what could be your dream challenge. Register today and join us for Britain V Cancer Trek Nepal 2017. 

Feel Inspired? To find out more about Dream Challenges events please visit the website or contact us directly: 

W: www.actionforcharity.co.uk . E: events@dreamchallenges.co.uk T: 01590 646410